MURAT RAVIDAS Vs. STATE OF BIHAR (NOW JHARKHAND)

JUDGEMENT

(1.) Heard learned counsel for the appellants and learned counsel for the State.

(2.) The appellants are aggrieved by the impugned Judgment of conviction dated 16.01.1996 and Order of sentence dated 17.01.1996, passed by the learned Sessions Judge, Giridih, in Sessions Trial No. 57 of 1994, whereby, the appellants have been found guilty and convicted for the offences under Sections 304-B and 201 of the Indian Penal Code. Upon hearing on the point of sentence, the appellants have been sentenced to undergo imprisonment for life for the offence under Section 304-B of the Indian Penal Code and R.I. for two years each for the offence under Section 201 of the Indian Penal Code, and both the sentences were directed to run concurrently.

(3.) It may be stated that originally there were six appellants in this appeal, but during the pendency of the appeal two of the appellants, namely, Ganesh Ravidas and Niria Devi, who were the elder brother-in-law and mother-in-law respectively, of the deceased, died and accordingly, this appeal abated with respect to them and their names were deleted from the array of appellants. The appeal thus continued only against the aforesaid four appellants, amongst whom, Murat Ravidas and Balo Ravidas are the brothers-in-law (devars) of the deceased and Meena Devi and Fulwa Devi are the sisters-in-law (gotnis) of the deceased. The husband and father-in-law of the deceased were not made accused in the case.