PAN SINGH Vs. EMPEROR

JUDGEMENT

(1.) The appellants Pan Singh, and his sons, Nar Singh and Mohan Singh, and also Chunni, have been convicted fey the learned Sessions Judge of Kumaon of offences under Secs.326 and 326-109, Indian Penal Code, and sentenced, the first three to five years rigorous imprisonment and the fourth to three years rigorous imprisonment under those sections, and Chunni has also been sentenced to two years rigorous, imprisonment under, Section 201, Indian Penal Code. The story told by the witnesses far the prosecution is an unusual and painful, one; but there is no doubt whatever, that it is true. It has been described in full by the learned Sessions Judge. The appellants are hillmen from the Almorah District, and the first there are apparently, what are called devil dancers, who attempted, at Chunni's request, or at any rate with his consent, to dispossess Chunni's wife of a devil by applying a hot ladle (Karchhuli) to her mouth and throat and. to various parts of her body, with the result, that she died. Chunni Subsequently became frightened and buried the body of his wife, and for this reason, he has been convicted under Section 201, Indian Penal Code, as well as of abetting the other offence.

(2.) Musammat Mohania, which is the name of the unfortunate woman, bad been ill. Solar as the oral evidence goes it only appears that she was suffering from a fit of giddiness. But Dr. Faruki, the, Medical Officer who performed the post mortem examination stated in evidence that she had been suffering from disease of the right lung, probably tuberculosis, and also from malaria, However, that may be, Chunni--who had already consulted the witness Bhairab Dat about her called in the other three appellants to treat her. Between them they decided that she was possessed of a devil, and they attempted to exorcise it by applying a heated ladle to her mouth, to her private parts and to other parts of her body. She abused them and evidently had the strongest objection of the treatment. But the appellants appeared to have believed that though her body was her own, her mind was in the possession of the devil, and that it was the devil that was abusing them and objecting to the treatment. It appears from the medical evidence that the ladle was thrust right into her mouth, and two of her front teeth were broken. Chunni did not take part in the actual treatment, but he consented to it apparently in the belief that the devil would be exorcised. Bhairab Dat, the neighbour who had already been consulted by Chunni, heard cries from Chunni's hut and sent his servant to see what the matter was, and the servant came back with the news that devil dancing was going on and that Chunni's wife was being branded by the appellants, Nar Singh and Pan Singh, while another man was helping to hold the woman down. Next morning the woman, who was still alive, sent her son to Bhairab Dat who went to see her, and she was able to tell him roughly what had happened. Bhairab Dat, who was ill himself, told Chunni to take the woman to hospital, but Chunni did nothing, and as Bhairab Dat was not able to do anything effective, the unfortunate woman died without any medical help. Bhairab Dat subsequently discovered that the woman had died, and had been quietly buried, and he made a report on January 22, at 4 P.M.

(3.) Mr. Kapil Deva Malaviya, who appeared in this Court for the appellants, did not attempt to controvert the facts which had been found proved on behalf of the prosecution. He argued, however, in the first place that the offence was not one that was covered by the provisions of Section 326, Indian Penal Code but that Section 304-A would be more appropriate, and that in any case the sentences were too severe as all of the appellants were acting in good faith, though in great ignorance, with the object of curing the woman by dispossessing her of the devil. However ignorant the appellants may have been and however barbarous their methods, he suggested that as they had been in jail for several months, the law would be satisfied if they were to be punished with the imprisonment which they have already undergone.