Supreme Court of India
STATE OF PUNJAB REP. THROUGH SECRETARYversusRAJ KUMAR AND ORS.
- Citation
- 2008 INSC 923
- Decided
- 11 August 2008
- Disposal
- Case Partly allowed
- Bench
- ARIJIT PASAYAT
Holding
A dying declaration, if proved true, voluntary and made by a fit person, may alone sustain a conviction; in the present case the appropriate charge is Section 304 Part II IPC, not Section 302 IPC.
Summary
The deceased Sunita, married to Raj Kumar, was allegedly set on fire by her mother‑in‑law amid dowry disputes. While on her death‑bed she gave a dying declaration identifying her husband and his parents as the assailants; the statement was recorded by police and a magistrate. The trial court convicted all accused under Section 302 read with Section 34 IPC and sentenced them to life imprisonment, a decision later set aside by the High Court. The Supreme Court examined the admissibility and weight of dying declarations, holding that such a statement can form the sole basis of conviction if it is true, voluntary and made by a fit person, and that corroboration is not a mandatory rule. Applying this principle, the Court found that the evidence supported conviction of one accused under Section 304 Part II IPC, imposing a six‑year term, while the murder charge under Section 302 was not sustained against the others. The appeal was therefore partly allowed, modifying the convictions and sentences.
Issues considered
- The admissibility and evidentiary value of a dying declaration under the Indian Evidence Act.
- Whether a dying declaration can alone support a conviction without corroborative evidence.
- Whether the facts of the case constitute murder under Section 302 IPC or culpable homicide not amounting to murder under Section 304 Part II IPC.
Legislation cited
- Indian Evidence Act, 1872s. 32
- Indian Penal Code, 1860s. 302, s. 304(Part II), s. 34
Subjects
dying declarationIndian Evidence ActSection 32corroborationSection 302 IPCSection 304 Part II IPCdowry disputeculpable homicidemurdercriminal appealsentencing
Judgment
[2008] 11 S.C.R. 1169
+
STATE OF PUNJAB REP. THROUGH SECRETARY A
-
II.
RAJ KUMAR AND ORS.
(Criminal Appeal No. 537 of 2003)
AUGUST 11, 2008
B
- [DR. ARIJIT PASAYAT AND G.5. SINGHVI, JJ.]
Indian Evidence Act, 1872:
Dying declaration - Conviction on the basis of - Held:
Situation in which a person is on his death-bed being exceed- c
ingly solemn, severe and grave is the reason in law to accept
veracity of his statement - Moreover, its exclusion will result
in miscarriage of justice - But the dying declaration should
be of such nature as to inspire full confidence of the Court as
to its correctness -Once the Court is satisfied that it was true o·
and voluntary, conviction could solely be based on it without
any further corroboration - In the instant case,. prosecution
has successfully established accusation on the basis of dy-
ing declaration against accused No. 2 - However, in the facts
and circumstances of the case, punishment under Section 304 E
Pt. II and custodial sentence of 6 years would sub-seNe the
ends of justice - Sentencing - Penal Code, 1860 - Murder/
Culpable homicide - Ss. 302 and 304 Pt. II - Dying declara-
tion - Evidentiary value.
According to the prosecution, relationship between F
>
accused No.1, husband and the deceased wife was
strained on account of more and more demand of dowry
being made by the accused and his parents. On March
12, 1996, mother in law of the deceased allegedly sprinkled
kerosene oil on her and set her on fire. On hearing hercry, G
her brother-in-law and his wife took her to a hospital and
her statement was recorded by PW9, a doctor, on the ba-
.-l
sis of which an FIR was registered on the next day. Her
statement was also recorded by the Magistrate. She died
1169 H
1170 SUPREME COURT REPORTS [2008] 11 S.C.R.
+
A on March 14, 1996. On completion of the investigation,
Police filed charge-sheet against the accused husband
and his parents for committing the offence punishable u/
s.302 r/w s.34 IPC. Trial Court, on the basis of dying dee-
laration, found the accused persons guilty of committing
B the offence punishable u/s.302 r/w s.34 IPC and sentenced "'1
them to undergo rigorous imprisonment for life. Appeal
preferred thereagainst by the convicts was allowed by the
High Court. Hence the present appeal.
Appellant-State contended that the approach of the
c High Court is clearly erroneous. Even if it is accepted that
there was some manipulation as urged by the accused
persons, the effect of the dying declaration has not been
dealt with at all.
Partly allowing the appeal, the Court
D
HELD: 1.1 The situation in which a person is on his )..
deathbed, being exceedingly solemn, serene and grave,
is the reason in law to accept the veracity of his state-
ment. It is for this reason that the requirements of oath
E and cross-examination are di~pensed wi~h. Besides
should the dying declaration be excluded it will result in
miscarriage of justice bec;ause the victim being generally
the only eye-witness in a serious crime, the exclusion of
the statement would leave the Court without a scrap of
F evidence. (Para - 4) [1175 e,f]
·~
1.2 Though a dying declaration is entitled to great
weight, it is worthwhile to note that the accused has no
power of cross-examination. Such a power is essential
for eliciting the truth as an obligation of oath could be.
G This is the reason the Court also insists that the dying
declaration should be of such nature as to inspire full
confidence of the Court in its correctness. The Court has
to be on guard that the statement of the deceased was
not as a result of either tutoring or prompting or a prod-
H uct of imagination. Th~ Court must be further satisfied that
STATE OF PUNJAB REP. THROUGH SECRETARY 1171
v. RAJ KUMAR & ORS.
the deceased was in a fit state of mind after a clear oppor- A
tun.ity to observe and identify the assailant. Once the Court
is satisfied that the declaration was true and voluntary,
undoubtedly, it can base its conviction without any fur-
ther corroboration. It cannot be laid down as an absolute
rule of law that the dying declaration cannot form the sole B
basis of conviction unless it is corroborated. The rule re-
quiring corroboration is merely a rule of prudence. (Para
- 5) [1175 G,H - 1176 A,B]
Smt. Paniben v. State of Gujarat AIR (1992) SC 1817;
Munnu Raja & Anr. v. The State of Madhya Pradesh (1976) 2 C
SCR 764; State of Uttar Pradesh v. Ram Sagar Yadav and
Ors. AIR (1985) SC 416; Ramavati Devi v. State of Bihar AIR
(1983) SC 164; K. Ramachandra Reddy and Anr. v. The Pub-
lic Prosecutor AIR (1976) SC 1994; Rasheed Beg v. State of
Madhya Pradesh (1974) 4 SCC 264; Kaka Singh v State of D
MP AIR (1982) SC 1021; Ram Manorath and Ors. v. State of
UP. (1981) 2 SCC 654; State of Maharashtra v. Krishnamurthi
Laxmipati Naidu AIR (1981) SC 617; Surajdeo Oza and Ors.
v. State of Bihar AIR (1979) SC 1505; Nanahau Ram and Anr.
v. State of Madhya Pradesh AIR (1988) SC 912; State of UP E
v. Madan Mohan and Ors. AIR (1989) SC 1519; Mohan/al
Gangaram Gehani v. State of Maharashtra AIR (1982) SC 839
and Mohan Lal and Ors. v. State of Haryana (2007) 9 SCC
151 - relied on.
1.3 As rightly contended by the counsel for the appel- F
;. !ant-State, even if the so-called interpolations are kept out of
consideration the effect of the statement made in the dying
declaration cannot be lost sight of. (Para - 6) [1178 A BJ
2. Considering the principles of law and the factual G
scenario, it is crystal clear that the prosecution has been
able to establish the accusations so far as respondent
No.2 is concerned. But the question is whether the case
would be covered under Section 302 IPC. The factual sce-
nario shows that the case would be covered by Section H
1172 SUPREME COURT REPORTS [2008] 11 S.C.R.
,,
A 304 Part II IPC and custodia.1 sentence of 6 years would
meet the ends of justice. The sentence has been imposed
considering ·the age of respondent No.2. (Para - 7) [1178
AB]
Case Law Reference
B
AIR (1992) SC 1817; Relied on Para - 5
(1976) 2 SCR 764;
AIR (1985) SC 416;
AIR (1983) SC 164;
c AIR (1976) SC 1994;
(1974) 4 sec 264;
AIR (1982) SC 1021;
(1981) 2 sec 654;
D
AIR (1981) SC 617;
AIR (1979) SC 1505; ;..
AIR (1988) SC 912;
AIR (1989) SC 1519;
E
AIR (1982) SC 839;
(2001) 9 sec 151
CRIMINALAPPELLATE JURISDICTION: Criminal Appeal
No. 537 of 2003
F
From the final Judgment and Order dated 8.10.2001 of
the High Court of Punjab and Haryana at Chandigarh in Crimi-
nal Appeal No. 200-DB of 1999
Kuldip Singh for the Appellant.
G
K.K. Gupta for the Respondents.
The Judgment of the Court was delivered by
;..
Dr. ARIJIT PASAYAT, J. 1. Challenge in this appeal is to
the judgment of a Division Bench of the PunjaQ and Haryana
H
STATE OF PUNJAB REP. THROUGH SECRETARY 1173
-i v. RAJ KUMAR & ORS. [DR. ARIJIT PASAYAT, J.]
High Court directing acquittal of the respondents who had faced A
trial for alleged commission of offence punishable under Sec-
tion 302 read with Section 34 of the Indian Penal Code, 1860
(in short the 'IPC'). Each was sentenced to undergo RI for life
and to pay a fine of Rs.1,000/- each with default stipulation.
2. Background facts as projected by prosecution· in a nut- B
shell are as follows:
Sunita (hereinafter referred to as the 'deceased') had been
married to accused-Raj Kumar about 1% year prior to the oc-
currence and a son had been born to the couple though he had
died some time later. Relationship between the. parties was
c
strained on account of the demands being made by Raj Kumar,
as also by his parents. Ram Piari and Piara Singh and as Sunita
and her parents had not been able to satisfy their demands, the
three accused had maltreated her. Chaman Lal (PW.7), one of
the brothers of the deceased had an unpleasant exchange with D
Ram Piari on account of her behaviour with his sister and this
act had further incensed the accused. Around midnight on March
12, 1996, Ram Piari sprinkled kerosene oil on Sunita and set
her on fire. The alarm raised by Sunita attracted her husband's
brother and his wife and she was immediately removed to the E
Guru Nanak Dev Hospital, Amritsar by them. ASI, Harjinder
Singh (PW.8) of Police Station Sadar, Amritsar also reached
the hospital and after ascertaining Sunita's fitness to make a
statement from Dr. Sanjiv Kumar (PW.9) recorded the same
(Exh. PM/2) at about 10.20 A.M. on March 13, 1996 and on its
;.. F
basis the FIR was registered at the Police Station at 10.45 a.m.
ASI Harjinder Singh also made an application to the Deputy
Commissioner for getting Sunita's statement recorded by a
Magistrate. NaibTehsildar Lakhbir Singh Kahlon (PW.6) was
accordingly deputed to do the needful. He too went to the hos-
pital and after getting the opinion of Dr. Kulwar Singh (PW.4) G
that Sunita was fit to make a statement recorded the same (Exh.
PL) at 6.00 PM on March 13, 1996. Sunita died on March 14,
1996. On the completion of the investigation, the accused were
charged for offence punishable under Section 302/34 IPC and
as they pleaded not guilty, were brought to trial. H
1174 SUPREME COURT REPORTS [2008] 11 S.C.R.
A Prosecution examined witnesses to establish the accu-
sations. Primarily reference was made to the evidence of PWs
5 and 7 (Ashok Kumar and Chaman Lal respectively) to whom
she had made oral dying declarations about 10.30 a.m. on
March 13, 1996. Lakhbir Singh (PW-6) had recorded the dying
B declaration. Similarly, Harjinder Singh, ASI (PW-8) the Investi-
gating Officer had recorded the dying declaration (Exh.PM/2)
and Dr. Sanjiv Kumar (PW-9) had opined that the deceased
was in a fit condition to make statement which had been re-
corded by PWs 6 and 8. Appellant No.1 pleaded alibi. He fur-
C ther stated that he had taken the deceased to the hospital in
injured condition. Two witnesses were examined to prove the
aforesaid stands. The trial Court observed that the dying decla-
ration (Exh.PL and PM/2) made to ASI Harjinder Singh and
Lakhbir Singh clearly proved the prosecution case beyond
doubt. It also observed that it appears that last three lines of the
0
statement Exh.PM/2 excluded Raj Kumar and Piara Singh from
any wrong doing. It was clear from the subsequent statement
(Ex.PL) that she had reiterated the facts already mentioned in
the earlier statement (Exh.PM/2) and again there was manipu-
lation in the statement Exh.PM/2). The trial Court relied on oral
E dying declaration made to PWs 5 and 7 at 10.30 a.m. on
13.5.1996. Referring to the evidence of the doctor and PW-8 it
was observed that the deceased was in a conscious and fit
state of mind to make the dying declaration. Referring to the
fact that the FIR had been lodged promptly, conviction was re-
F corded.
Conviction was challenged before the High Court. It was
the stand of the appellants (respondents herein) that dying dec-
laration (Ex.PL) in which manipulations were done had been
G recorded after deliberation between the deceased and her
brothers PWs 5 and 7.
The State supported the judgment of the trial Court.
The High Court observed that as an after thought the de-
ceased might have added that her mother-in-law set fire on her
H
STATE OF PUNJAB REP. THROUGH SECRETARY 1175
v. RAJ KUMAR & ORS. [DR. ARIJIT PASAYAT, J.]
and her father-in-law was present in the house, though in dying A
declaration (Ex.PL) the deceased had clearly inculpated all the
accused persons in the actual incidence. The High Court ac-
cepted the stand of the accused persons that the last three lines
in the dying declaration (Exh.PM/2) appear to have been inter-
polated. It was however noted that though the mother-in-law had B
been stated to have set her on fire, but there was no reference
whatsoever to the other two accused persons. The High Court
held that in case of eye-witnesses, there can be dissection of a.
statement to find out as to what part can be believed. But in the
case of dying declarations same cannot be done. c
3. Learned counsel for the appellant submitted that the
approach of the High Court is clearly erroneous. Even if it is
accepted that there was some manipulation as urged by the
accused persons, the effect of the dying declaration (Exh.PL)
has not been dealt with at all. In the said dying declaration A-2 D
was named. Both the dying declarations clearly referred toA-2.
A
4. This is a case where the basis of conviction of the ac-
cused by the trial Court was the dying declarations. The situa-
tion in which a person is on his deathbed, being exceedingly
solemn, serene and grave, is the reason in law to accept the E
veracity of his statement. It is for this reason that the require-
ments of oath and cross-examination are dispensed with. Be-
sides should the dying declaration be excluded it will result in
miscarriage of justice because the victim being generally the
only eye-witness in a serious crime, the exclusion of the state- F
~ ment would leave the Court without a scrap of evidence.
5. Though a dying declaration is entitled to great weight, it
is worthwhile to note that the accused has no power of cross-
examination. Such a power is essential for eliciting the truth as
G
an obligation of oath could be. This is the reason the Court also
insists that the dyir:ig declaration should be of such nature as to
.I.
inspire full confidence of the Court in its correctness. The Court
has to be on guard that the statement of the deceased was not
as a result of either tutoring or prompting or a product of imagi-
H
1176 SUPREME COURT REPORTS [2008] 11 S.C.R.
...
A nation. The Court must be further satisfied that the deceased
was in a fit state of mind after a clear opportunity to observe
and identify the assailant. Once the Court is satisfied that the
declaration was true and voluntary, undoubtedly, it can base its
conviction without any further corroboration. It cannot be laid
B down as an absolute rule of law that the dying declaration can-
not form the sole basis of conviction unless it is corroborated .
. The rule requiring corroboration is merely a rule of prudence.
"'
This Court has laid down in several judgments the principles
governing dying declaration, which could be summed up as
c under as indicated in Smt. Paniben v. State of Gujarat (AIR
1992 SC 1817):
(i) There is neither rule of law nor of prudence that dying
declaration cannot be acted upon without
corroboration. [See Munnu Raja & Anr. v. The State
D of Madhya Pradesh (1976) 2 SCR 764)]
(ii) If the Court is satisfied that the dying declaration is ,.__
true and voluntary it can base conviction on it, without
corroboration. [See State of Uttar Pradesh v. Ram
Sagar Yadav and Ors. (Al R 1985 SC 416) and
E Rarnavati Devi v. State of Bihar (AIR 1983 SC 164)]
(iii) The Court has to scrutinize the dying declaration
carefully and must ensure that the declaration is not
the result of tutoring, prompting or imagination. The
F deceased had an opportunity to observe and identify
the assailants and was in a fit state to make the
declaration. [See K. Ramachandra Reddy and Anr.
v. The Public Prosecutor (AIR 1976 SC 1994)]
(iv) Where the dying declaration is suspicious, it should
G not be acted upon without corroborative evidence.
[See Rasheed Beg v. State of Madhya Pradesh
(1974 (4) sec 264)]
I..
(v) Where the deceased was unconscious and could
never make any dying declaration, the evidence with
H
STATE OF PUNJAB REP. THROUGH SECRETARY 1177
v. RAJ KUMAR & ORS. [DR. ARIJIT PASAYAT, J.]
regard to it is to be rejected. [See Kaka Singh v A
State of MP (AIR 1982 SC 1021 )]
(vi) A dying declaration which suffers from infirmi1¥ cannot
form the basis of conviction. [See Ram Manorath
__,.
1 and Ors. v. State of UP (1981 (2) SCC 654)
B
'I"
(vii) Merely because a dying declaration does contain
the details as to the occurrence, it is not to be rejected.
[See State of Maharashtra v. Krishnamurthi
Laxmipati Naidu (AIR 1981 SC 617)]
(viii) Equally, merely because it is a brief statement, it is c
not to be discarded. On the contrary, the shortness
__, of the statement itself guarantees truth. [See
Surajdeo Oza and Ors. v. State of Bihar (AIR 1979
SC 1505).
• D
(ix) Normally the Court in order to satisfy whether the
-4< deceased was in a fit mental condition to make the
dying declaration looks up to the medical opinion.
But where the eye-witness said that the deceased
was in a fit and conscious state to make the dying
declaration, the medical opinion cannot prevail. [See E
Nanahau Ram and Anr. v. State of Madhya Pradesh
(AIR 1988 SC 912)].
(x) Where the prosecution version differs from the
version as given in the dying declaration, the said F
... declaration cannot be acted upon. [See State of UP
v. Madan Mohan and Ors. (AIR 1989 SC 1519)].
(xi) Where there is more than one statement in the nature
of dying declaration, one first in point of time must be
preferred. Of course, if the plurality of dying G
declarations could be held to be trustworthy and
reliable, it has to be accepted. [See Mohan/al
~
- Gangaram Gehani v. State of Maharashtra (AIR 1982
SC 839) and Mohan Lal and Ors. v. State of Haryana
(2001 (9) sec 151). H
~
'
1178 SUPREME COURT REPORTS [2008] 11 S.C.R.
A 6. As rightly contended by learned. counsel for the appel-
lant-State even if the so-called interpolations are kept out of
consideration the effect of the statement made in the dying dec-
laration (Exh.PL) cannot be lost sight of.
7. Considering the principles set out above and the fac-
B tual scenario, it is crystal clear that the prosecution has been
able to establish. the accusations so far as respondent No.2 is
concerned. But the question is whether it is a case under Sec-
tion 302 IPC. According to us the factual scenario shows that a
case at hand would be covered by Section 304Part11 IPC. Cus-
.C todial sentence of 6 years would meet the ends of justice. The
sentence has been imposed considering the age of the respon-
dent No.2. He shall surrender to custody forthwith to serve the
remainder of sentence. Appeal stands dismissed vis-a-vis other
respondents.
D
8. The appeal is allowed to the aforesaid extent.
S.K.S. Appeal partly allowed.
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