TAPOSHI CHAKERVARTI Vs. STATE

JUDGEMENT

(1.) Admit.

(2.) This Criminal Revision Petition No. 505 of 1997 is directed against the judgment and order of the learned Additional Sessions dated 24.9.1997 whereby the learned Additional Sessions Judge has framed charge against the petitioner under Sections 306/498-A read with Section 34 Indian Penal Code. It is the case of the petitioner that upon material avaible on record and taken to be correct in all respects, it is not sufficient to support' the charge of Sections 306 & 498-A Indian Penal Code. It is on this backdrop that the petitioner has taken me through the record of the case. The only material available on record are two letters written by the deceased giving reasons as to why she has chosen to take this drastic step of ending her life. It would, therefore, be appropriate to refer to the letters which are as follows:

(3.) But should the affection for the wives of the two sons be decided by the weight of money? The younger son whom I loathed to introduce as my brother-in-law; took the goodwill generated by his father's business, sank it, and then started his own business. He had no difficulty in starting his own business as he had come to know several doctors through his father's professional contacts. He began to prosper gradually by using his father's name. He made a lot of money and bought two cars. My sister-in-law, whom I loved earlier, has now (why now, for a while now) stopped talking to me. I constantly told her, "Look your husband has never spoken properly to me, and the parents-in-law are difficult people. We, the two daughters-in-law, must try to love each other like two sisters. Quarrels take place in every household. But we'll always forget that and talk things over. If you dislike any behaviour of mine, you ask me straightaway. Don't go by what the others say. Only then will our affection remain intact. But alas, it was to no avail. For every little thing, the beauty's face would become sullen, there would be no conversation and if I said anything, she would carry tales to her husband and provoke him-pretend to be a simpleton and make him raise a storm. But because the younger son has money, and in fact to tell the truth, he has won over the parents by giving them money, therefore, the elder daughter-in-law was dirt in the mother-in-law's eye. And how could she see any fault in the younger son? She sided with her son and fought so much with me. Yes, my biggest fault was that I never provoked my husband to quarrel with his parents. When I had to fight, I did so on my own. Because in my opinion, the daughter-in-law is someone else's daughter. Very few daughters-in-law have the good fortune to receive affection from their in-laws. But the son is the precious reward for the parent's struggles. If he takes up cudgels for his wife, and quarrels with his parents, such impertinence in my opinion is unpardonable. So despite frequent quarrels, I never say a word to my husband. He loves his mother, father, brother and his brother's wife. I have never wanted him to be pained for my sake. But my beautiful sister-in-law who I thought was such a nice girl, who knew that even she was so scheming. She has a lot in common with my mother-in-law. She has further poisoned my mother-in-law's mind about me, by carrying tales about me. And my mother-in-law has in turn ruined my relationship with my sister-in-law, again by carrying tales. How we don't even look at each other. My beautiful sister-in-law has criticized me everywhere, but all of it has come back to my ears. Thus ended my love for my sister-in-law. They have cleverly occupied the first floor of the house completely. And here I am on the ground floor with my stony-hearted mother-in-law in the room adjacent to mine. No opportunity for conversation with my husband. She would eavesdrop, and then taunt at me later. What am I to do then? Who am I to talk to? On many days, I haven't eaten, cried secretly, and fallen ill. But the heart of stone did not melt. Never did she stroke my head affectionately. But to tell the truth, though my father-in-law pestered me a lot after my marriage, he changed with age. When I was unwell, he would stroke my head even at midnight. I love no one in this house. Yet, if there is any affection at all, it is for my father-in-law.