LAKHAN LAL Vs. STATE

JUDGEMENT

(1.) Appellant Lakhan Lal son of Narayan Singh stands convicted of offence punishable under Section 302 of the Indian Penal Code and sentenced to life imprisonment and to pay fine of Rs. 2,000.00 and default to suffer further S.I.for three months on 18.4.1990 by an Additional Sessions Judge, Delhi. It was held that the appellant Lakhan Lal had committed the murder of his wife Vidhya by setting her on fire.

(2.) Vidhya was the daughter of PW. 1, Buddha Ram. She had given up her education in graduation in Art Faculty in the year 1980 and had taken up a job as Telephone Operator. In March 1981 her marriage took place with the appellant Lakhan Lal. It was an arranged marriage. After the said marriage she joined her husband and started living with him in the joint family of the appellant which consisted of appellant, his parents and a sister. But it seems that appellant's sister, particularly was harassing the deceased Vidhya and appellant's parents were also asking her to get a plot of land in order to raise their own house and due to the same there were some disputes between her and her matrimonial family. But, ultimately Vidhya and her husband started living separately and they were living separately for about 2 to 3 years at House No. 2/23, Prem Nagar, Kotia Mubarak pur, New Delhi, prior to the date of incident.

(3.) The incident in question has taken place on 9.12.1986. After Vidhya and her husband Appellant Lakhan Lal started living separately in the rented house at 2/23, Prem Nagar, Kotla Mubarakpur, New Delhi, it seems that the appellant was not doing any work and was not earning anything. Not only he was not earning anything but also he used to return home late at night. Due to this sometimes there used to be some minor frictions and unpleasant incidents between husband and wife. Vidhya was always asking him to get himself employed and to earn something and not to remain out of the house till late at night.