STATE OF HIMACHAL PRADESH Vs. NARENDER SINGH SON OF SH JEET SINGH

JUDGEMENT

(1.) This is an unfortunate case where two persons belonging to the Scheduled Caste community have been killed, but the police has not been able to prove the case against the alleged assailants beyond reasonable doubt.

(2.) The prosecution story in brief is that PW-20 Upender Singh had a love affair with PW-14 Vandana, daughter of Kuldeep Singh. Upender Singh belonged to the Scheduled Caste community, whereas Vandana was a Rajput. This matrimonial alliance between two consenting adults was not liked by the family members of Vandana. All the accused persons are related to Vandana and allegation is that they mercilessly beat both Salig Ram and his father Kapoor Singh only to settle scores. In other words, this is another case of honour killing.

(3.) Passion runs high in our country when there are inter-caste marriages and especially when distances between untouchables and the higher castes is breached by those individuals who defy traditions and break the barriers of society and enter into a matrimonial alliance with each other. It is by now well established that such alliances more often than not lead to acrimonious disorder and sometimes go so far as to end in criminal activity like murder. Whatever may be our views on such a horrendous crime, we are of the considered view that it is for the prosecution to prove the case beyond reasonable doubt as enjoined upon it by the criminal jurisprudence of our country.