GAURI SHANKAR Vs. STATE

JUDGEMENT

(1.) The appellants did not appear nor counsel appeared in spite of their presence secured through bailable warrants issued and thus non-bailable warrants were issued on April 22, 2016 to secure their presence. The appellants have appeared in Court today with their counsel and since arguments would be heard and decision pronounced today itself we recall the non-bailable warrants issued; which are cancelled.

(2.) HC Rajbir Singh PW-16 was the first police officer to reach House No.L-267, Shastri Nagar where deceased Manju had suffered burn injuries in a room on the second floor. Her husband Santosh and her in-laws : Gauri Shankar and Rama Devi (the appellants) were present. As deposed to by Rajbir Singh he removed Manju and her husband as also took along with him Gauri Shankar to JPN Hospital in the PCR Van of which he was the in- charge. At the hospital, Dr.Khem Chand PW-4 recorded MLC Ex.PW-4/A of Manju, in which history of the burn wounds suffered by her was recorded as the result of accidental burn by a burst of stove while Manju was preparing tea.

(3.) HC Satvir Singh PW-15 was posted as the Duty Officer at PS Sarai Rohilla, within jurisdiction whereof Shastri Nagar fell, and he recorded DD No.19A, Ex.PW-15/A of information being received from the police control room that a husband and a wife had fought at House No.L-267, Shastri Nagar and the wife had been set on fire, copy whereof was handed over to SI Daya Prakash PW-23 who accompanied by Ct.Ram Karan PW-1 reached the house and learnt that the injured lady called Manju had been removed to the hospital. Leaving Ct.Ram Karan to guard the spot he reached the hospital and obtained Manju's MLC Ex.PW-4/A and because she was fit for statement recorded her statement Ex.PW-23/A, in which Manju disclosed that she was residing in the house in question with her family. Her husband returned in the night after attending a marriage function and demanded food and this resulted in a verbal altercation between the two. She put kerosene oil in a kerosene stove when suddenly kerosene oil sprinkled out from the nozzle and fell on her face and front side. She was on fire. She threw her sweater on the sofa. Her husband tried to douse the flames. Somebody rang up the police and she was rushed to the hospital in the PCR Van.