SUKHWINDER SINGHversusSTATE OF PUNJAB

                   [2013] 12 S.C.R. 339

                   SUKHWINDER SINGH                             A
                              v.
                    STATE OF PUNJAB
            (Criminal Appeal No. 1023 of 2008)
                   NOVEMBER 12, 2013
                                                                B
           [RANJANA PRAKASH DESAI AND
               MADAN B. LOKUR, JJ.]

    PENAL CODE, 1860:
                                                                c
     s.304-8 - Dowry death - Conviction of husband by High
Court - Held: The evidence on record discloses that after
marriage, attitude of accused was hostile towards deceased -
Five days prior to incident deceased had described to her
father about the demands raised by accused and that there
                                                              0
was danger to her life - Thus, harassment of dowry was soon
before the death - Fwther, victim died of poisoning within 7
years of marriage - Therefore, presumptions uls 304-8 /PC
ands. 113-8 of Evidence Act are attracted - Conviction upheld
- Evidence Act, 1872 - s.113-8.
                                                              E
     INVEST/GA TION:

     Discrepancies in timing and date of handing over of case
property - Overwriting in inquest report - Held: Cases in which
substratum of prosecution case is strong and substantiated F
by reliable evidence, lapses in investigation should not
persuade the court to reject the prosecution case and
unnecessary weightage should not be given to minor errors
or lapses - In the instant case, the doctor clearly deposed
about the date of handing over the case property to police after G
post-mortem - There seems to be mistake in giving dates --
Simi la rly, the overwriting in the inquest report is
inconsequential -- It could be a mere inadvertent lapse -
Further, sending the special report to magistrate the following
                             339                                H
    340      SUPREME COURT REPORTS            [2013] 12 S.C.R.


A day has no adverse impact on prosecution case - Code of
    Criminal Procedure, 1973 - s.57.

       The daughter of PW 2 was married to the appellant
  in May·, 1989. On 30.6.1991, she died in the matrimonial
  home. The prosecution case, as revealed from the
8
  statement of PW 2, was that on 25-6-1991 when he went,
  along with PW-3, to the house of the appellant to meet
  her daughter, she was in tears and told that the appellant
  and the other accused were demanding a scooter and a
  refrigerator and that her life was in danger. On 1.7.1991,
C he was informed that his daughter had died on 30/06/
  1991. A case for offence punishable u/s 3048 IPC was
  registered against the appellant (accused no. 4), his
  father, mother and brother (accused nos. 1 to 3
  respectively). The trial court acquitted all the accused.
D The High Court convicted the appellant u/s 3048, IPC and
  sentenced him to 7 years RI.

          Dismissing the appeal, the Court

E        HELD: 1.1 Admittedly, the deceased died within
    seven years of marriage, therefore, presumptions u/s 304·
    B, IPC and s.1138 of the Evidence Act are attracted to the
    case. It is for the appellant to rebut it, which, the he has
    failed to do. [para 8] [345-H; 346-A]

F      1.2 It is not correct to say that from the date of
  marriage till the date of incident there was no harassment
  to the deceased. PW-2 has given the details of articles
  given to the appellant and his family as dowry and stated
  that after marriage the attitude of the accused was hostile
G towards the deceased. Besides, the demand was made
  on 25.06.1991 and the deceased died on 30.06.1991.
  Thus, the harassment for dowry was soon before the
  death of the deceased, as required by s. 304-8, IPC and
  s.113·8 of the Evidence Act. Further, from the medical
H
    SUKHWINDER SINGH v. STATE OF PUNJAB                341

evidence it is clear that the victim died of poisoning. [para A
9-10] (346-G; 347-A-B, DJ
     1.3 As regards overwriting and discrepancies in
timing and date of handing over the case property to
police after post-mortem, PW-1, the doctor who did the
                                                           8
post-mortem of the deceased, stated that post-mortem
was conducted on 01/07/1991. There is no reason to
disbelieve him. He stated that he handed over the case
property to PW-7 on 1.7.1991. However, PW-7, in his
affidavit has stated that post-mortem was conducted on C
2.7.1991 and he handed over the case property to PW-4
on 2. 7 .1991. The evidence does not indicate any
tampering with the case property. There appears to be
mistake in giving the dates. Similarly, the overwriting in
the inquest report is inconsequential. It could be a mere
 inadvertent lapse. [para 11] [347-D-E, H; 348-A, E]       D

     1.4 Where substratum of the prosecution case is
strong and substantiated. by reliable evidence, lapses in
investigation should not persuade the court to reject the
prosecution case and unnecessary weightage should E
not be given to minor errors or lapses. Particularly, in
offences relating to women and children, which are on
rise, the courts will have to adopt a pragmatic approach.
No scope must be given to absurd and fanciful
submissions. [para 11] [348-8-E]                          F

     1.5 The time taken to send special report to the
Magistrate also has no adverse impact on the
prosecution case. The FIR was lodged promptly on
1.7.1991 at 2.10 p.m. after PW-2 got to know about his
daughter's death. It reached the Magistrate at 7.00 p.m. G
on 2.7.1991. In the facts of the case, this time lag could
not be termed as delay. In any case, requirement of
sending special report to the Magistrate is an external
check on the working of police agency but not in all
                                                           H
    342      SUPREME COURT REPORTS              [2013] 12 S.C.R.


A   cases that delay will make the prosecution case doubtful.
    [para 12] [348-F-G]

       1.6 The prosecution has established its case beyond
  reasonable doubt so far as the appellant is concerned.
B The trial court fell into a grave error in acquitting him. The
  trial court's order is indeed perverse. The High Court
  rightly interfered with it. The view taken by the High Court,
  is the only possible and correct view in the facts of the
  case and the same is confirmed. [para 13] [349-B-C]

C       CRIMINAL APPELLATE JURISDICTION: Criminal Appeal
    No. 1023 of 2008.

         From the Judgment and Order dated 16.05.2007 &
    17 .05.2007 of the High Court of Punjab & Haryana at
0   Chandigarh in Criminal Appeal No. 224DBA of 1996.

         Vishal Yadav, S.P. Singh, Rupinder Sheroen, Ajay Pal for
    the Appellant.

          Anvita Cowshish, Kuldip Singh for the Respondent.
E
          The Judgment of the Court was delivered by

        (SMT.) RANJANA PRAKASH DESAI, J. 1. In this appeal
    judgment and order dated 16/17-05-2007 passed by the Punjab
    and Haryana High Court is under challenge.
F
       2. The appellant is original accused no. 4. He was tried
  along with Gurdev Singh, Surjit Kaur and Jaswinder Singh,
  original accused nos. 1, 2 and 3 respectively, by the Additional
  Sessions Judge, Ludhiana in Sessions Trial No. 16 of 1994
G for offence punishable under Section 3048 of the IPC. Learned
  Sessions Judge by judgment dated 31/08/1995 acquitted all
  the accused. The State of Punjab carried an appeal from the
  said order to the High Court of Punjab and Haryana. By the
  impugned judgment and order dated 16/17-05-2007 the High
H Court set aside the order of acquittal so far as the appellant is
    SUKHWINDER SINGH v. STATE OF PUNJAB                   343
        [RANJANA PRAKASH DESAI, J.]
concerned. He was convicted under Section 304B of the IPC A
and sentenced to undergo RI for seven years. He was directed
to pay compensation of Rs.20,000/- to the father of the
deceased. In default he was directed to suffer RI for one year.
The High Court noted that accused no. 1 Gurdev Singh was
dead. So far as accused no. 2 Surjit Kaur and accused no. 3 B
Jaswinder Singh are concerned, the High Court gave them
benefit of doubt and confirmed their acquittal. Being aggrieved
by his conviction and sentence the appellant has approached
this Court.

Case of the Prosecution                                           c
      3. The appellant was married to deceased Karnail Kaur
("the deceased" or "Karnail Kaur") in May, 1989. Accused
no. 1 Gurdev Singh was his father. Accused no. 2 Surjit Kaur
is his mother and accused no. 3 Jaswinder Singh is his brother.   D
The prosecution story is unfolded by PW-2 Labh Singh, father
of the deceased. He stated that on 25/06/1991 he went to meet
the deceased to the house of the appellant along with PW-3
Surjit Singh. The appellant who was employed in the Army had
come home on leave. The deceased was in tears. She told           E
PW-2 Labh Singh that the appellant and the other accused were
demanding a scooter and a refrigerator and that her life was
in danger. PW-2 Labh Singh told her that he would meet the
demand after the Sauni Crop. On 01/07/1991 he was told by
Pritam Singh, a resident of Dehlon, that Karnail Kaur had died    F
on 30/06/1991. On 01/07/1991 when he was proceeding to the
police station to lodge FIR, he met PW-4 ASI Mohinder Singh,
who recorded his statement. PW-4 ASI Mohinder Singh
forwarded it to the police station and a formal FIR was
registered at P.S. Samrala under Section 304B of the IPC          G
 against the accused. The accused were arrested. After
 completion of investigation they were sent up for trial.

The trial
     4. The prosecution examined PW-1 Dr. Gurmit Singh, who H
    344      SUPREME COURT REPORTS               [2013] 12 S.C.R.


A   had conducted the post-mortem, PW-2 Labh Singh, PW-3 Surjit
    Singh and police witnesses PW-4 ASI Mohinder Singh, PW-5
    HC Kalmit Singh, PW-6 SI Manminder Singh and PW-7
    Constable Angrej Singh. The appellant and the other accused
    denied the prosecution case.
B
    The view taken by the trial court

         5. The trial court acquitted all the accused on the ground
  that evidence of PW-1 Dr. Gurmit Singh, PVV-4 ASI Mohinder
  Singh and affidavit filed by PW-7 Constable Angrej Singh
C indicate that the case property, that is the contents of stomach
   of the deceased and other material, handed over by PW-1 Dr.
  Gurmit Singh to him remained in his personal custody for one
  day and, therefore, the possibility of its tampering cannot be
  ruled out. Therefore, the Chemical Analyser's report stating that
D poison was detected therein cannot be relied on. The trial court
  also held that there was delay in sending special report to the
  Magistrate from which it could be inferred that the FIR was ante
  timed. The trial court further held that while PW-2 Labh Singh
  stated that the deceased told him about the dowry demand in
E the room, PW-3 Surjit Singh stated that the deceased ta 1k..:;d
  to them in the verandah. Thus, there is variance in their
  statements. Moreover, the deceased could not have told them
  about the dowry demand in the presence of the accused. The
  trial court, thus, concluded that the prosecution had not proved
F it's case beyond reasonable doubt and acquitted the accused.

    The High Court's view
       6. The High Court held that the inference drawn by the trial
  court that the case property might have been tampered with is
G without any basis. The High Court held that the evidence of PW-
  2 Labh Singh and PW-3 Surjit Singh established that the
  deceased was subjected to harassment for dowry and that the
  time taken to forward the special report to the Magistrate did
  not make the prosecution case suspect. Taking note of the fact
H that Karnail Kaur had died within seven years of marriage, the
    SUKHWINDER SINGH v. STATE OF PUNJAB                    345
        [RANJANA PRAKASH DESAI, J.]

High Court convicted the appellant as aforesaid. The High        A
Court confirmed the acquittal of mother and brother of the
appellant by giving them benefit of doubt.

Submissions of the counsel

      7. We have heard learned counsel for the parties at some B
length. Mr. Vishal Yadav, learned counsel for the appellant
reiterated all the points which the trial court had taken into
consideration while acquitting the accused which we have
quoted hereinabove and stated that the High Court erred in
disturbing the trial court's well reasoned judgment. He submitted C
that the trial court's view was a reasonably possible view which
the High Court should not have disturbed even if it felt that
another view of the matter was possible. Counsel submitted that
the deceased was married to the appellant in May, 1989. PW-
2 Labh Singh stated that on 25/06/1991 the deceased told him D
about the harassment and demand for dowry. There is no
evidence to show that from May, 1989 to 25/06/1991 there was
 harassment for dowry. Counsel submitted that in the FIR PW-
 2 Labh Singh stated that Pritam Singh told him that Karnail
 Kaur had died. But, he improved his story in the court and stated E
that Pritam Singh told him on 01/07/1991 that Karnail Kaur had
 been killed a day earlier. Thus, he is not a reliable witness.
 Counsel pointed out that there is overwriting in the inquest
 report Exhibit-PC with the intention to match it with time given
 in the FIR. Counsel submitted that post-mortem notes do not F
 show presence of cyanosis. lherefore, the prosecution case
 that Karnail Kaur died of poisoning is doubtful. In the
 circumstances, impugned judgment deserves to be set aside.
 Ms. Anvita Cowshish, learned counsel for the State of Punjab
 submitted that the evidence of PW-2 Labh Singh and PW-3 G
 Surjit Singh and the Chemical Analysers report bear out the
 prosecution story and hence the appeal be dismissed.

Our view and conclusion

     8. Admittedly, Karnail Kaur died within seven years of       H
    346      SUPREME COURT REPORTS                  [2013) 12 S.C.R.

A marriage, therefore, presumptions under Section 3049 of the
  IPC and Section 1139 of the Indian Evidence Act, 1872 are
  attracted to this case. It is for the appellant to rebut it, which, in
  our opinion the appellant has failed to do.

B       9. We have already noted the gist of PW-2 Labh Singh's
   evidence. He has given the details of articles given to the
  appellant and his family as dowry and stated that after marriage
  the attitude of the accused was hostile towards the deceased.
  Thereafter, he has described his visit to the appellant's house
  along with PW-3 Surjit Singh on 25/06/1991 when the
C deceased, who was in tears, told him about the dowry demand
   of the accused. The appellant was present there. PW-3 Surjit
  Singh, who had accompanied PW-2 Labh Singh, corroborates
   PW-2 Labh Singh on this aspect. They are rustic witnesses.
  Their evidence must be read bearing their simple background
D in mind. PW-2 Labh Singh had lost his daughter. Besides, they
  were deposing in 1994, almost three years after the incident.
   Hence, allowance must be made for minor discrepancies, if
  any, in their evidence. In any case, by and large, their evidence
  is consistent. Only discrepancy which is pointed out by the
E appellant's counsel is that while PW-2 Labh Singh stat1>d that
  the deceased told them about the demand in the room, PW-3
  Surjit Singh stated that she talked to them in the verandah.
   Evidence of witnesses cannot be rejected on such minor
  inconsistencies. We also do not find any substance in the
F contention that the deceased could not have talked about the
  dowry demand in the presence of the accused. The deceased
  appears to have reached a point of desperation. She stated
  that her life was in danger. It appears that she had no option
  but to tell PW-2 Labh Singh about her miserable existence. One
G wonders whether she would have been allowed to share some
  moments with the father alone. Pertinently, shortly thereafter, she
  took poison. It is not correct to say that from the date of
  marriage till the date of incident there was no harassment to
  the deceased. PW-2 Labh Singh stated that after the marriage
H the attitude of the accused towards the deceased was hostile.
    SUKHWINDER SINGH v. STATE OF PUNJAB                     347
        [RANJANA PRAKASH DESAI, J.]
Besides, the demand was made on 25/06/1991 and the A
deceased died on 01/07/1991. Thus, the harassment for dowry
was soon before the death of Karnail Kaur, as required by
Section 3048 of the IPC and Section 113B of the Evidence
Act, 1872.
                                                            B
     10. PW-1 Dr. Gurmit Singh did the post-mortem of the
deceased. The stomach contents were sent to the Chemical
Analyser. The finding of the Chemical Analyser reads thus:

    "Aluminium phosphate a pesticide was detected in the
    contents of exhibit NO. 1. Phosphine a constituent of C
    aluminium phosphide was detected in the contents of
    exhibits No. II and No. Ill poison was detected in the
    contents of exhibit NO. IV"

    Thus, the deceased died of poisoning. She had consumed D
Aluminium Phosphate, a pesticide.
      11. PW-1 Dr. Gurmit Singh is an indep.endent witness. He
stated that post-mortem was conducted on 01/07/1991. There
is no reason to disbelieve him. He stated that he handed over
the case property to PW-7 Angrej Singh on 01/07/1991. PW-           E
7 Angrej Singh in his affidavit appears to have stated that post-
mortem was conducted on 02/07/1991 and he handed over the
case property to PW-4 ASI Mohinder Singh on 02/07/1991. It
is contended that since PW-1 Dr. Gurmit Singh stated that
case property was handed over to PW-7 Angrej Singh on 01/           F
07/1991, then, it remained in the personal custody of PW-7
Angrej Singh for a day. Therefore, the case property might have
been tampered with. No suggestion was put to PW-1 Dr. Gurmit
Singh that post-mortem was not conducted on 01/07/1991. PW-
1 Dr. Gurmit Singh has stated that all the parcels were sealed      G
and handed over to PW-7 Angrej Singh. PW-7 Angrej Singh
has confirmed that all the parcels were sealed, they were
deposited in Malkhana and then taken to the laboratory. There
is, therefore, no question of any tampering with the case
property. We do not see any foul play in this. There appears to     H
    348      SUPREME COURT REPORTS                (2013) 12 S.C.R.


A be mistake in giving the dates. It is too much to presume that
  the doctor and the Chemical Analyser would conspire and
  fabricate a false report. Similarly, the overwriting :n the inquest
  report is inconsequential. It could be a mere inadvertent lapse.
  It could also be purposeful lapse. But, if such mistakes or
B lapses are given undue importance every criminal case will end
  in acquittal. While it is true that the police should not involve
  innocent persons, fabricate evidence and obtain convictions,
  it is equally true that cases in which substratum of the
  prosecution case is strong and substantiated by reliable
C evidence, lapses in investigation should not persuade the court
  to reject the prosecution case. The court with its vast experience
  should be quick to notice mischief if there is any. Incompetent
  prosecuting agencies or prosecuting agencies which are driven
  by extraneous considerations should not be allowed to take the
  court for a ride. Particularly in offences relating to women and
0
  children, which are on rise, the courts will have to adopt a
  pragmatic approach. No scope must be given to absurd and
  fanciful submissions. It is true that there can be no compromise
  on basic legal principles, but, unnecessary weightage should
  not be given to minor errors or lapses. If courts get carried away
E by every mistake or lapse of the investigating agency, the guilty
  will have a field day. The submissions relating to alleged
  overwriting and discrepancies in timings and dates, therefore,
  are rejected.

F      12. We also do not find that time taken to send special
  report to the Magistrate has any adverse impact on the
  prosecution case. The FIR was lodged promptly on 01/07/1991
  at 2.10 p.m. after PW-2 Labh Singh got to know about his
  daughter's death. It reached the Magistrate at 7.00 p.m. on 02/
G 07/1991. We do not think that in the facts of this case this time
  lag could be termed as delay. In any case, requirement of
  sending special report to the Magistrate is an external check
  on the working of police agency but not in all cases that delay
  will make the prosecution case doubtful. We do not find any
H indication in this case from any evidence on mcord that the
       SUKHWINDER SINGH v. STATE OF PUNJAB                 349
           [RANJANA PRAKASH DESAI, J.)
prosecution case is untrue or fabricated. We reject this A
submission.
     13. The mother and brother of the appellant have been
acquitted by giving them benefit of doubt. So far as the
appellant is concerned, the prosecution has established it's 8
case beyond reasonable doubt. The trial court fell into a grave
error in acquitting him. The trial court's order is indeed perverse.
The High Court rightly interfered with it. The view taken by the
High Court, which is confirmed by us, is the only possible and
correct vi~w in the facts of this case. The appeal is, therefore, C
dismissed. The appellant is on bail. His bail bonds stand
cancelled. He shall surrender before the concerned court.

R.P.                                       Appeal dismissed.