STATE OF H.P. Vs. PREMI DEVI

JUDGEMENT

(1.) STATE has appealed against the judgment dated 6.4.1994 of learned Sessions Judge, Chamba, whereby respondent Machlu Ram, father -in -law, Premi Devi, mother -in -law and Pratap Chand, husband of deceased Pano Devi have been acquitted of the offence under Section 302 read with Section 34 of the Indian Penal Code, for which they were tried.

(2.) PROSECUTION case, as per evidence adduced before the trial court is like this. Deceased Pano Devi and her sister PW -6 Deekhnu Devi were married to two sons of respondent Machlu Ram and Premi Devi. Deekhnu Devi was married to PW -4 Gian Chand, the elder son of respondent Machlu Ram and respondent Premi Devi and deceased Pano Devi was married to respondent Partap Chand. Soon after marriage, Deekhnu Devi was sent to her in -laws place by her parents. However Pano Devi, being of tender age, remained at her parents place for about two years, after the marriage. She came to her in -laws place, i.e., the respondents place only ten days prior to her death. The date of her death is 6.5.1993.

(3.) RESPONDENTS had started quarreling with the deceased soon after she came to their house to join her husband (respondent Partap Chand) about ten days prior to her death. The cause of quarrel was that respondents felt that the deceased shirked work.