PUSPA Vs. STATE OF U.P.

JUDGEMENT

(1.) The Sessions Judge vide judgment and order dated 09.04.1996 has held the appellants Smt. Puspa, Smt. Devi and Lalloo, all residents of village Kutubpur guilty of committing murder of Ram Vilas @ Ram Lakhan by poisoning him under Section 302 / 34 I.P.C. and has ordered for their life imprisonment.

(2.) The aforesaid judgment and order of conviction has been challenged by the appellants in the present criminal appeal. During the pendency of the appeal, the appellants No. 2 and 3 Smt. Devi and Lalloo were reported dead and the appeal was dismissed as against them as having abated vide the order of the Court dated 18.12.2019. Thus, the appeal now survives in respect of appellant No.1 Smt. Puspa only.

(3.) The Court had appointed Sri Santosh Kumar Tiwari as Amicus Curiae as no counsel had responded on behalf of appellant No.1 and after the non-bailable warrant could not be served upon her as it was reported that she had left the village 15-16 years ago and her whereabouts are not known.