ASHOK DUBEY Vs. STATE OF M P

JUDGEMENT

(1.) L . Appellant Dr. Ashok Dubey has been convicted under section 302 of the Indian Penal Code for the murder of his wife Neerja and sentenced to suffer imprisonment for life.

(2.) DR . Ashok Dubey, at the relevant time, was working in the Department of Forensic Medicine in the Medical College, Jabalpur. In fact, he belonged to the Pathology Department of the College, earlier having joined as a Resident Pathologist in the year 1968. Later he joined Army on 17th March, 1972 and left Army in March, 1973. He came back as Resident Pathologist in July, 1973. There was some little discord with the Head of the Department and the Dean, Medical College, asked Ashok Dubey to work in the Department of Forensic Medicine.

(3.) DR . Ashok Dubey married Neerja on the 6th of March, 1975. She was a healthy, good looking girl, (her photograph is Ex. P -10), coming from a respectable family. Her father Sukumar Pagare (P.W. 7) had once been a member of the Legislative Assembly; he was a political sufferer and a social worker. Neerja was M.A. in Hindi. Parents of Dr. Ashok Dubey were opposed to this marriage, probably on account of some caste difference. They did not join the marriage celebrations which took place at Hoshangabad. The marriage was performed according to Hindu rites and the bride came to live with the husband on the 8th March, 1975.