STATE OF H.P. Vs. RAM LAL

JUDGEMENT

(1.) THE respondents were put on trial and acquitted on 21-12-91, for the offences punishable under sections 498-A and 306 of the Indian Penal Code by the Additional Sessions Judge, in Sessions Trial No.6 of 1989.

(2.) RESPONDENT Ram Lal was the husband and Geeta Devi was mother-in-law of the deceased Anjana Devi.

(3.) IT is alleged that the respondents had treated the deceased cruelly and had been tortured both mentally and physically by them. Whether reporters of the Local papers are allowed to see the judgment? Yes This was the case of the prosecution that within 15 days of the marriage of the deceased with respondent Ram Lal, she complained to her parents that the respondents gave her beatings and hurled abuses. On being asked by Durga Ram, (PW-1) father of the deceased, the reason for such a treatment from the respondent Ram Lal, he told him that he would use such a trick that his daughter Anjana Devi would not be traceable. Thereafter, in the month of January, 1986, when Anjana Devi had visited her parents during lohri festival, she complained of maltreatment by the respondents. PW1 her father asked the reason from her for such maltreatment then she informed that she had seen Geeta Devi respondent with her Devar in a compromising position in her bed room when she was serving the morning tea to her. Thereafter, they started maltreating her. About three months after the marriage of Anjana, the father of the deceased was informed that she was missing from the house of her in-laws. Next day, She was traced from near by the Baba's Kutia in Gochar nallah. On inquiry, she had revealed that she was hiding herself on account of the fear from the respondents. Then, her father Durga Ram (complainant) PW1 took Jamaldeen, Ram Dass and Ram Saran of village Daslehra to the house of his son-in-law, Ram Lal respondent had apologized. The matter was compromised. Lastly, it was alleged that about 15 days prior to death of her daughter Anjana Devi, one Tulsi Ram of village Tihri informed the complainant that Anjana Devi had told him to take her immediately from her matrimonial house to save her life, but when PW1 reached there, respondent Geeta Devi started hurling abuses and told him that she would turn out Anjana Devi from her house.