STREE ATYACHAR VIRODHI PARISHAD STATE OF MAHARASHTRA Vs. DILIP NATHUMAL CHORDIA:DILIP NATHUMAL

JUDGEMENT

(1.) These four appeals, by leave, arise out of the common judgment of Bombay High Court dated April 5, 1984 in Criminal Revision Application Nos. 166 and 234 of 1983. Criminal Appeal Nos. 486 and 487 of 1984 have been preferred by an organisation called "Stree Atyachar Virodhi Parishad". It is an association committed to prevent atrocities on women. Criminal Appeal Nos. 488 and 498 of 1984 are by the State of Maharashtra.

(2.) The case relates to the death of a newly married girl called chanda. On June 15, 1981, Chanda was married to Ramesh. The elder brother of Ramesh is called Dilip and Nathumal is their father. The marraige of Ramesh and Chanda took place at Nerparsopant, District Yavatmal.

(3.) On the next day of the marriage, the bride and groom returned to the house of the latter at Arvi. On June 19, 1981, they had gone to Amravati to have prayers in the Devi Temple. They came back in the same evening. The day following was a fateful day. At about 2.30 p.m. on June 20, 1981, Chanda was seen with flames on the first floor of the residential building, frantically crying for help. That attracted some of the neighbours from the ground floor. They rushed to rescue Chanda. Three of them are : Bhanrao, Ballu alias Nandu and Ramdas. They extinguished the flame which was practically enguilfing Chanda. The inamtes in the house, however did not render any such help. Dilip who was on the first floor was seen coming down the stairs. Shortly thereafter two doctors came and the police also arrived. Chanda was taken to Ervin Hospital at Amravati in an unconscious condition. She died in the hospital at about 9 p.m. on the same day. Before the death, her dying declaration was said to have been recorded by the Executive Magistrate. It was stated therein that when she was preparing tea in the kitchen, her saree caught fire accidentially and consequently she received the burn injuries.