STATE OF ORISSA Vs. DUSASSAN SAHU

JUDGEMENT

(1.) THIS appeal has been directed against the order of acquittal of the Respondent who stood charged under Section 302 of the Indian Penal Code (for short, the 'Code') for having committed the murder of his wife. The learned Sessions Judge, having applied Exception 1 to Section 300 of the Code, convicted the Respondent under Section 304 Part I thereof and sentenced him to undergo rigorous imprisonment for a period of six years. It has been reported by the High Court office that the Respondent has not preferred an appeal against the order of conviction and sentence passed against him. As has been observed by the learned Sessions Judge, the Respondent, being deprived of the power of self -control by grave and sudden provocation offered by his deceased wife who had abused the Respondent in most filthy language, killed her.

(2.) THE test of 'grave and sudden' provocation is whether a reasonable man, belonging to the same class of society as the accused, placed in the situation in which the accused was placed, would be so provoked so as to lose his self -control. Words and gestures may also, under certain circumstances cause grave and sudden provocation to an accused 80 as to bring his act within the first Exception to Section 300 of the Code. See K.M. Nanavati v. State of Maharashtra. In our view, the learned trial Judge has reasonably held that the act of the Respondent would amount to culpable homicide not amounting to murder coming within the purview of Section 304 Part I of the Code. The learned Standing Counsel has been fair in submission with reference to the evidence on record that the view taken by the learned Sessions Judge seems to be justified.

(3.) I agree.