LCI Learning

Share on Facebook

Share on Twitter

Share on LinkedIn

Share on Email

Share More

aatma   15 November 2010

Shameless Country - Extent of Dowry Law Abuse: Supreme Court

IN THE SUPREME COURT OF INDIA
CRIMINAL APPELLATE JURISDICTION

CRIMINAL APPEAL NO. 891 of 2004

Dr. Sunil Kumar Sambhudayal Gupta & Ors. ...Appellants

Versus

State of Maharashtra ...Respondent

JUDGMENT

Dr. B.S. CHAUHAN, J.


35. It is a clear cut case of gross abuse of the dowry laws. We find it difficult to sustain the conviction of the appellants on the aforesaid counts based upon the inconsistent, embellished and improved statements of the witnesses, which materially contradict their respective statements recorded earlier. The High Court did not dislodge the reasons given by the Trial Court for acquittal. The High Court did not make any reference to the deposition of Dr. Daulatram Nekumal Gurubani (PW.10) in the cross-examination and dealt with the case very casually, adopting a very superficial approach to the whole matter and brushed aside the allegation of an illicit relationship for which there had been documentary evidence on record without recording any cogent reasons for the same. The High Court did not make any attempt to appreciate the evidence with accuracy and reversed the findings of the trial court which were based on the evidence on record and for which detailed reasons had been assigned.


36. In view of the above, the appeal succeeds and is allowed. The judgment and order of the High Court of Bombay, dated 29.4.2004, passed in Criminal Appeal No. 865 of 1987 is set aside. The judgment and order of the Trial court in Sessions Case No. 25/1986 dated 21.5.1987 is hereby restored. The appellants are on bail. Their bail bonds stand discharged.


SC raps Bombay HC for wrongly convicting man
Press Trust Of India
New Delhi, November 13, 2010

Noting that his wife had committed suicide after her illicit relationship was exposed, the Supreme Court has set aside the conviction imposed on a doctor and his parents by the Bombay High Court, saying it was a clear-cut case of gross abuse of dowry laws. The apex court expressed displeasure at the manner in which the Bombay High Court had convicted Dr Sunil Kumar Sambhudayal Gupta by erroneously reversing the acquittal order passed by the sessions court. "The high court dealt with the case very casually, adopting a very superficial approach to the whole matter and brushed aside the allegation of an illicit relationship for which there had been documentary evidence on record," a bench of Justice P Sathasivam and Justice BS Chauhan said.

The apex court said the manner in which the doctor and his parents were framed by the in-laws revealed the extent to which the anti-dowry laws were being abused in the country.

"It is a clear-cut case of gross abuse of dowry laws. The high court did not make any attempt to appreciate the evidence with accuracy and reversed the findings of the trial court which were based on the evidence on record and for which detailed reasons had been assigned," the apex court said.

The court ruling came on an appeal by the doctor, a Mumbai-resident, and his parents. Married in December 1978, Gupta's wife committed suicide in September 1985.

Her brother Rajesh lodged a complaint with the police accusing the husband of ill-treating his sister for dowry culminating in the suicide. The trial court acquitted the three as the prosecution failed to prove the charges against them.

Referring to her going into depression after the exposure of her illicit relationship with a neighbour, the trial court concluded that Gupta's wife "had been suffering from epilepsy, psychosis and depression and had been getting regular treatment for the same."

"Therefore, it was not a case of dowry demand or treating her with cruelty," the trial court had held. But the high court had convicted them, saying the defence had not been able to prove its version. Concurring with the trial court's view, the apex court said, "The high court committed an error in shifting the burden of proof to the defence."



Learning

 3 Replies

Bhartiya No. 1 (Nationalist)     15 November 2010

Which law has not been abused and most of the politicians and govt. officials are misusing their positions. Then why not all the law be scapped, and all the courts and govt. dept. be closed down. What is the use of continuing these things?

Siv (engineer)     19 November 2010

Guys, just take weapon kill another wife who is destroying the society . You can do it to other wife but her husband can not do it. If such activities happens only Govt wakes up and change the law... see how many times Hon'ble Supreme Court openioned that Dowry Law is misused but no action by the Govt till now.

Govt calls for tals with Naxalites, militents and etc... because they do violence to solve their demadns but Govt wont come for tals with the people like the 498A victims...

Only offence can kill offence .... Mahatma Gandhi principles are useless for these politicians and law makers ...

 

I do not think there is another country where law is misused by women then India .... Great Indian Women.

 

In India, ex-wife wants maintencne.... ex-wife want physical relation with Ex-husband, ex-girl friedns need s*x, money everything from boyfriend.... does indian man is so rich may be if he is involved in scams.... then law is forcing man to earn illegally..... law is to protect society but not to destroy the society.


(Guest)

This decision helps to Keep the Supreme Faith in Hon'ble Supreme Court.......

Long Live the Supreme Court of India.

Long Live the constitution of India.....

Great Judgment....


Leave a reply

Your are not logged in . Please login to post replies

Click here to Login / Register