SHYAM LAL Vs. STATE OF U P

JUDGEMENT

(1.) THIS is one of those rare cases relating to death of daughter-in-law while residing with her in-laws. The first information report indicated usual story of dowry deaths. There are certain startling features that have been brought to the notice of the Court and they are the letters written by the deceased to the applicant who is the father-in-law. A bald reading of these letters shows that she was extremely enamoured of the good behaviour and the affection given by the applicant to the deceased. On the other hand she revealed about the cantankerous and nagging nature of her mother-in-law and sister-in-law, before she breathed her last. It is extremely unfortunate that our social values have placed the other sex on such a padestal that although they may be performing one of the gruesome form of the criminal acts yet law has to lean in their favour. Such a social philosophy has to be depricated. It is well settled that discrimination cannot be allowed to be perpetrated on the basis of mere caste, creed or sex as envisaged by the Constitution.

(2.) IN the society every day commotion is being created on account of dowry deaths and normally the entire family is nominated, may be to wreak vengeance. Therefore, a great responsibility lies on the investigating officer to act with great care and caution and so is the duty of the court to find out the real culprit whose shadow of anger looms large on the departed soul. IN the instant case a reading of the letters written by the deceased shows the callousness with which the mother-in-law and the sister-in-law dealt with the deceased. It is unfortunate that those two culprits have been let of on bail by the learned lower court while an innocent person is behind the bar. I am confident that the soul of the deceased shall not rest in peace if I detain the applicant behind the bar.