SHYAMA DEVI Vs. STATE OF BIHAR

JUDGEMENT

(1.) Leave granted. The two appellants who are the mother- in-law and husband of the deceased, have been convicted under Section 304-B, IPC and sentenced to imprisonment for life. The conviction and sentence has been upheld in appeal by the High Court. High Court, however, on re-appreciation of the evidence, gave benefit of doubt to the elder brother of the husband of the deceased. When the matter was listed before us for admission, a limited notice had been issued on the question of sentence. We, therefore, heard Mr, Agrawal, the learned Senior counsel appearing for the appellants and the learned counsel appearing for the State of Bihar on the question of sentence.

(2.) Having regard to the facts and circumstances of the present case and the provisions of Section 304-B, IPC and the age of mother- in-law of the deceased who is appellant No. 1 - Shyama Devi, we reduce the period of sentence to seven years and so far as the other appellant is concerned who happens to be the husband of the deceased, we reduce the sentence to 10 years. With this modification of sentence, the appeal stands disposed of. Appeal disposed of.