[2026:RJ-JP:4486-DB] HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE FOR RAJASTHAN BENCH AT JAIPUR D.B. Criminal Appeal No. 322/1996 State of Rajasthan. ----Appellant Versus 1. Brij Mohan s/o Mangal Chand 2. Mangal Chand s/o Bhura Ram 3. Smt. Prabhati wife of Mangal Chand resident of House No. 222, Hasanpura-C, Jaipur. ----Respondents For Appellant(s) : Mr. Shree Ram Dhakar, PP For Respondent(s) : Mr. Amit Singh Shekhawat HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE MAHENDAR KUMAR GOYAL HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE CHANDRA PRAKASH SHRIMALI Order 1. Arguments Concluded On: 16.01.2026 2. Judgment Reserved On: 16.01.2026 3. Full Judgment/Operative Part Pronounced: Full Judgment 4. Pronounced On: 05.02.2026 PER HON'BLE CHANDRA PRAKASH SHRIMALI,J. vihykFkhZ jktLFkku jkT; dh vksj ls ;g vihy varxZr /kkjk 378 naM izfdz;k lafgrk ds varxZr fo}ku fo'ks"k U;k;ky; ¼lrh fuokj.k½ jkt- ,oa vij ls'ku U;k;k/kh'k] t;iqj uxj] t;iqj }kjk ikfjr vkyksP; fu.kZ; fnukad 23-09-1995 ls O;fFkr gksdj izLrqr dh gS] ftlds }kjk fo}ku fopkj.k U;k;ky; us izR;FkhZx.k@vfHk;qDrx.k dks /kkjk 498¼,½] 304 ch Hkkjrh; naM lafgrk ds varxZr naMuh; vijk/k esa nks"keqDr fd;k gSA [2026:RJ-JP:4486-DB] (2 of 7) [CRLA-322/1996] la{ksi esa rF; bl izdkj gSa fd ifjoknh gtkjh yky us fnukad 20-07-1991 dks viuh iq=h js.kq dk fookg c`geksgu ds lkFk fd;k FkkA fookg ds djhc 3 ekg ckn ls izR;FkhZx.k@vfHk;qDrx.k] e`rdk js.kq dks ngst ds fy, ijs'kku djus yx x;s rFkk LdwVj dh ekax djus yx x,A gtkjh yky }kjk vkfFkZd fLFkfr ds dkj.k viuh etcwjh tkfgj djus ds mijkar Hkh vfHk;qDrx.k us ngst dh ekax ugha NksM+h rFkk os e`rdk Jherh js.kq dks LdwVj dh ekax iwjh djus ds fy, ijs'kku djrs jgsA e`rdk Jherh js.kq ds iq= ds tUe ij Hkh vfHk;qDrx.k us LdwVj dh ekax nksgjkbZ rFkk gtkjh yky }kjk mijksDr ekax iwjh ugha djus ds dkj.k mUgksaus e`rdk Jherh js.kq ds lkFk ekjihV Hkh dhA vfHk;qDrx.k e`rdk Jherh js.kq dks vius ekrk&firk ds ikl Hkh ugha vkus nsrs Fks rFkk mls ;kruk,a nsrs jgrs FksA fnukad 04-01-1993 dks ifjoknh gtkjh yky dh iRuh 'kdqaryk viuh iq=h e`rdk js.kq ls feyus ds fy, mlds llqjky xbZ] rc e`rdk js.kq us LdwVj dh ekax ds fy, mlds llqjky i{k ds yksxksa ds }kjk mls ijs'kku djuk crk;kA fnukad 05-01-1993 dks lk;adky djhc 4-30 cts ifjoknh gtkjh yky dks vfHk;qDr eaxypUn ds nkekn us lwpuk nh fd mls Jherh js.kq ds llqjky okys cqyk jgs gSa] ftl ij gtkjh yky js.kq ds ?kj igqapk rks mlus js.kq dks Qkalh ij yVds gq, ik;kA bl izdkj fnukad 05-01-1993 dks Jherh js.kq dk LoxZokl gks x;kA ifjoknh gtkjh yky us bl ?kVuk dh fjiksVZ vkj{kh dsUnz lnj] t;iqj esa ntZ djkbZA ftldk iqfyl us izFke lwpuk fjiksVZ ntZ dj okn vUos"k.k vfHk;qDr c`teksgu ds fo#) /kkjk 498, o 304 ch Hkkjrh; naM lafgrk ds rgr vkjksi i= izLrqqr fd;kA fo}ku fopkj.k U;k;ky; us izR;FkhZ@vfHk;qDr c`teksgu ij /kkjk 304 ch] 498 , Hkkjrh; naM lafgrk ds varxZr vkjksi fojfpr fd,] ftlls izR;FkhZ@vfHk;qDr c`teksgu us vijk/k vLohdkj dj vUoh{kk pkghA rRi'pkr vfHk;kstu i{k }kjk ijhf{kr lk{khx.k ds c;ku ds vk/kkj ij /kkjk 319 Hkkjrh; naM lafgrk ds izkFkZuk i= dk fuLrkj.k djrs gq, fo}ku fopkj.k U;k;ky; us izR;FkhZ@vfHk;qDr eaxypUn o Jherh izHkkrh ds fo#) /kkjk 498, o 304 ch Hkkjrh; naM lafgrk esa izlaKku ysdj vkjksi fojfpr fd,] ftls izR;FkhZx.k@vfHk;qDrx.k us Hkh vLohdkj dj vUoh{kk pkghA [2026:RJ-JP:4486-DB] (3 of 7) [CRLA-322/1996] fo}ku fopkj.k U;k;ky; us nksuksa i{kksa }kjk izLrqr ekSf[kd o nLrkosth lk{;ksa dk voyksdu dj nksuksa i{kksa dks lquokbZ dk volj iznku dj vkyksP; fu.kZ; fnukad 23-09-1995 ikfjr fd;k] ftlds }kjk fo}ku fopkj.k U;k;ky; us izR;FkhZx.k@vfHk;qDrx.k dks /kkjk 498, o /kkjk 304ch Hkkjrh; naM lafgrk ds naMuh; vijk/k esa nks"keqDr fd;k] ftlls O;fFkr gksdj vihykFkhZ dh vksj ls ;g vihy] vihy esa vafdr vk/kkjksa ij izLrqr dh xbZA cgl lquh xbZ rFkk i=koyh dk voyksdu fd;k x;kA vihykFkhZ dh vksj ls fo}ku yksd vfHk;kstd dk cgl ds nkSjku ;g rdZ jgk gS fd fo}ku fopkj.k U;k;ky; us lk{; dks lgh :i ls foosfpr ugha dj] fof/k&fo:) vkyksP; fu.kZ; fnukad 23-09-1995 ikfjr dj izR;FkhZx.k dks vkjksfir vijk/k esa nks"keqDr fd;k gSA vfHk;kstu i{k }kjk ijhf{kr lk{khx.k ds c;ku ls ;g ;qfDr;qDr lansg ls ijs lkfcr gS fd izR;FkhZx.k@vfHk;qDrx.k us e`rdk Jherh js.kq ds c`teksgu ls fookg i'pkr LdwVj ds :i esa ngst dh ekax dh vkSj mDr ekax e`rdk Jherh js.kq dh e`R;q gksus ls iwoZ dh xbZA bl rF; dks e`rdk dh eka 'kdqaryk us vius c;ku esa crk;k gSA vfHk;kstu i{k }kjk ijhf{kr lk{khx.k ds c;ku ls ;g Li"V gS fd e`rdk ds fookg ds 7 o"kZ ds vanj ngst dh ekax ds lkFk dzwjrk dk O;ogkj dj rFkk LdwVj dh ekax dj mls vkRegR;k djus ds fy, izR;FkhZx.k@vfHk;qDrx.k us izsfjr fd;kA izR;FkhZx.k@vfHk;qDrx.k us e`rdk js.kq ds lkFk ngst dh ekax fo'ks"kdj LdwVj dks ysdj dh FkhA e`R;q ls Bhd iwoZ dwzjrk dj mls izrkfM+r fd;k] ftlds dkj.k ls e`rdk js.kq us Qkalh yxkdj viuh thouyhyk lekIr dj yhA vfHk;kstu i{k }kjk ijhf{kr lk{khx.k ds c;ku ds vk/kkj ij] os izR;FkhZx.k@vfHk;qDrx.k ds fo#) vkjksfir vijk/k dks lansg ls ijs lkfcr djus esa lQy jgs gSaA ifj.kkeLo:i vihykFkhZ dh vihy Lohdkj dh tkdj fo}ku fopkj.k U;k;ky; }kjk ikfjr vkyksP; fu.kZ; fnukad 23-09-1995 vikLr fd;k tkdj] izR;FkhZx.k@vfHk;qDrx.k dks vkjksfir vijk/k esa nks"kfl) dj nafMr fd;k tkosA izR;FkhZx.k ds fo}ku vfHkHkk"kd dk cgl ds nkSjku ;g rdZ jgk gS fd fo}ku fopkj.k U;k;ky; us vkyksP; fu.kZ; fnukad 23-09-1995 esa ikfjr foLr`r :i ls izLrqr lk{; dk foospu dj ;g vfHkfu/kkZfjr fd;k gS fd izR;FkhZx.k us e`rdk js.kq [2026:RJ-JP:4486-DB] (4 of 7) [CRLA-322/1996] dks LdwVj ds ekax ds fy, ijs'kku ugha fd;k vkSj u gh ekjihV dhA vfHk;kstu i{k }kjk ijhf{kr fdlh Hkh lk{khx.k ds c;ku ls ;g ckr lkeus ugha vkrh gS fd izR;FkhZx.k@vfHk;qDrx.k us LdwVj dh ekax dks ysdj e`rdk Jherh js.kq ds lkFk e`R;q ls rRdky iwoZ mlds lkFk dzwjrk dk O;ogkj dj ekjihV dh gksA vU; vfHk;kstu i{k o izR;FkhZx.k }kjk ijhf{kr lk{khx.k ds c;ku ls ;g fLFkfr lkeus vkrh gS fd izR;FkhZx.k leFkZ ifjokj ls gSa vkSj muds ?kj esa LdwVj] VªSDVj oxSjg iwoZ ls gSaA ,slh fLFkfr esa ;g ugha ekuk tk ldrk gS fd muds }kjk LdwVj dh ekax dks ysdj dzwjrk dk O;ogkj fd;k x;k gksA eSaus mHk; i{kksa ds rdksZa ij euu fd;k rFkk i=koyh dk voyksdu fd;kA bl izdj.k esa vfHk;kstu i{k ds }kjk lansg ls ijs ;g lkfcr fd;k tkuk vko';d gS fd D;k izR;FkhZx.k@vfHk;qDrx.k us e`rdk Jherh js.kq ftldk fookg c`geksgu ds lkFk fnukad 20-07-1991 dks gqvk] fookg ds 7 o"kZ ds vanj ngst esa LdwVj ykus ds fy,] mls rax o ijs'kku dj rFkk mlds lkFk ekjihV o dzwjrk dk O;ogkj dj mls izrkfM+r fd;k] ftlds dkj.k ls e`rdk Jherh js.kq us fookg dh Ms<+ o"kZ dh vof/k ds varxZr fnukad 05-01-1993 dks viuh thouyhyk vlkekU; ifjfLFkfr;ksa esa lekIr dj yhA Rajinder Singh vs. State of Punjab (2015) 6 scc 477 esa ekuuh; mPpre U;k;ky; }kjk /kkjk 304ch Hkkjrh; naM lafgrk dks lkfcr djus ds fy, fuEu fl)kar izfrikfnr fd;k x;k gS%& 9. The ingredients of the offence under Section 304-B IPC have been stated and restated in many judgments. There are four such ingredients and they are said to be: (a) death of a woman must have been caused by any burns or bodily injury or her death must have occurred otherwise than under normal circumstances; (b) such death must have occurred within seven years of her marriage; (c) soon before her death, she must have been subjected to [2026:RJ-JP:4486-DB] (5 of 7) [CRLA-322/1996] cruelty or harassment by her husband or any relative of her husband; and (d) such cruelty or harassment must be in connection with the demand for dowry." bl izdj.k esa izLrqr lk{; ls ;g Lohd`r fLFkfr curh gS fd e`rdk Jherh js.kq dk fookg izR;FkhZ c`teksgu ls fnukad 20-07-1991 dks gqvk Fkk vkSj e`rdk Jherh js.kq ds fookg dh Ms<+ o"kZ dh vof/k ds varxZr fnukad 05-01-1993 dks vlkekU; ifjfLFkfr;ksa esa vFkkZr~ Qkalh yxkdj vizkd`frd :i ls e`R;q gqbZA bl izdj.k esa ifjoknh ihMCY;w 4 gtkjh yky ftldh iq=h e`rdk Jherh js.kq gS o ihMCY;w 1 Jherh 'kdqUryk tks e`rdk dh eka gS o ihMCY;w 5 panz'ks[kj tks e`rdk dk HkkbZ gSA rhuksa lk{khx.k ds c;ku ls ;g fLFkfr lkeus vkrh gS fd izR;FkhZ c`teksgu o e`rdk js.kq ds fookg ds le; dksbZ ngst dh ekax ugha dh xbZ FkhA mDr lk{khx.k ds c;ku ls ;g ckr lkeus vkrh gS fd fookg ls 3&4 ekg rd izR;FkhZx.k@vfHk;qDrx.k us e`rdk Jherh js.kq ls ngst dh dksbZ ekax ugha dh FkhA fookg ds le; o mlds i'pkr rhu ekg rd izR;FkhZx.k@vfHk;qDrx.k }kjk LdwVj ;k ngst dh ekax ugha fd;k tkuk] mlds i'pkr ¼vpkud½ izR;FkhZx.k@vfHk;qDrx.k }kjk e`rdk Jherh js.kq vkSj mlds ifjokjtuksa ls ngst esa LdwVj fn, tkus dh ekax fd, tkuk fo'oluh; izrhr ugha gksrk gSA mDr rhuksa lk{khx.k ds }kjk vius c;kuksa esa ;g dgk x;k gS fd izR;FkhZx.k@vfHk;qDrx.k e`rdk js.kq ls LdwVj dh ekax djds mlds lkFk ekjihV djrs FksA e`rdk Jherh js.kq ds lkFk fdlh izdkj ls dHkh Hkh ekjihV gqbZ gks] bl laca/k esa dksbZ Hkh pksV izfrosnu izi= e`rdk js.kq dk izLrqr ugha gqvk gSA ;fn izR;FkhZx.k@vfHk;qDrx.k }kjk LdwVj dh ekax dks ysdj js.kq ¼e`rdk½ ds lkFk dksbZ ekjihV dh tkrh rks e`rdk mu ekjihV ds laca/k esa fpfdRld dks fn[kkrh vkSj mldk bykt djkrh ijarq blds laca/k esa fdlh izdkj dk dksbZ fpfdRldh; lk{; vfHk;kstu i{k dh vksj izLrqr ugha fd;k x;k gSA mDr rhuksa lk{khx.k e`rdk ds ekrk firk o HkkbZ gSa] ;g fgrc) lk{kh gSaA mDr rhuksa lk{khx.k ds vykok vfHk;kstu i{k ds }kjk ijhf{kr fdlh Hkh lk{kh us vius c;ku esa ;g ugha dgk gS fd [2026:RJ-JP:4486-DB] (6 of 7) [CRLA-322/1996] izR;FkhZx.k@vfHk;qDrx.k us LdwVj dh ekax dks ysdj e`rdk Jherh js.kq ds lkFk dHkh Hkh dksbZ ekjihV dh gksA ihMCY;w 8 panzeksgu] ihMCY;w 2 eqUuk yky] ihMCY;w 9 clUrh iM+kslh o Lora= lk{kh ds :i esa ijhf{kr gq, gSa vkSj rhuksa gh i{knzksgh ?kksf"kr gq, gSa] ftUgksaus vfHk;kstu dgkuh dk leFkZu ugha fd;k gSA ;g lk{kh dgrs gSa fd izR;FkhZ@vfHk;qDr c`teksgu ds ikl LdwVj o dkj gSA ihMCY;w 6 ckcwyky tks uD'ks ekSds dk xokg gS tks izR;FkhZx.k ds ;gka nw/k nsus tkrk gSA mlus Hkh izR;FkhZXk.k@vfHk;qDrx.k ds ikl LdwVj] dkj gksuk crk;k gSA tc izR;FkhZx.k ds ikl LdwVj o dkj gS rks og LdwVj ds fy, e`rdk o mlds ifjokjtuksa ls ngst ds :i esa LdwVj nsus dh ekax D;ksa djsaxsA ;g rF; fo'okl fd, tkus ;ksX; ugha gSA Lora= lk{khx.k esa ls fdlh Hkh lk{kh us bl rF; dk leFkZu ugha fd;k gS fd izR;FkhZx.k us e`rdk js.kq ls ngst ds :i esa LdwVj dh ekax dh gks vkSj ekax iwjh ugha djus ij mlds lkFk ekjihV dj dzwjrk dk O;ogkj dj mldks izrkfM+r fd;k gksA ihMCY;w 5 panz'ks[kj tks e`rdk dk HkkbZ gS] us vius c;ku esa crk;k gS fd e`rdk o c`teksgu ds fookg esa ukudjke e/;LFk FkkA ukudjke dks izR;FkhZx.k dh vksj ls MhMCY;w 1 ds :i esa ijhf{kr djk;k x;k gSA mlus dgk gS fd gtkjh us ;k e`rdk us mls dHkh ;g ugha dgk fd izR;FkhZx.k@vfHk;qDrx.k ngst esa LdwVj dh ekax djrs gSa vkSj mlds fy, ekjihV dj ijs'kku djrs gSaA ihMCY;w 1 'kdqaryk tks fd e`rdk dh eka gS] us vius c;ku esa dgk gS fd og fnukad 04-1-1993 dks js.kq ds llqjky pkSFk ds oDr js.kq dks Hkst nsus ckcr dgus xbZ Fkh] rc js.kq us jksrs gq, crk;k fd jkf= dks mlds ifr c`teksgu o lkl izHkkrh us ekjk vkSj mlus dgk fd eq>s ;gka ls ys pyks ugha rks og tku ls ekj nsaxsA e`rdk js.kq us mls gkFk o iSjksa ij pksVs fn[kkbZ Fkh tks uhyxq fu'kku Fks] ftl ij mlus izR;FkhZx.k dks js.kq dks Hkstus ds fy, dgk ysfdu mUgksaus ugha HkstkA ysfdu ihMCY;w 1 'kdqaryk us ,-lh-ts-,e- ds le{k izn'kZ Mh- 16 esa c;ku fn, gSa] ftlesa bl rF; dk mYys[k ugha fd;k x;k gSA bl rF; dks 'kdqaryk us vius ifr o iq= dks dgk gks ;k vU; fdlh fj'rsnkj dks dgk gks ;g rF; Hkh izLrqr lk{; ls Li"V ugha gqvk gSA e`rdk dh iksLVekVZe fjiksVZ ls mlds gkFk o iSj ij uhyxq pksVsa vkus ds rF; Li"V ugha gq, gSaA vfHk;kstu i{k }kjk ijhf{kr lk{khx.k ds lk{; esa izR;FkhZXk.k@vfHk;qDrx.k }kjk ngst dh ekax ds laca/k esa dkQh fojks/kkHkkl [2026:RJ-JP:4486-DB] (7 of 7) [CRLA-322/1996] gS] bl laca/k esa foLr`r foospu fopkj.k U;k;ky; us vius vkyksP; vkns'k fu.kZ; fnukad 23-09-1995 esa fd;k gSA bldh iqujko`fRr ;gka fd;k tkuk U;k;laxr mfpr izrhr ugha gksrk gSA vihykFkhZ@jkT; ljdkj izLrqr vfHk;kstu lk{; ls ;g Li"V ugha dj ik;k gS fd izR;FkhZx.k@vfHk;qDrx.k us e`rdk ds lkFk mldh e`R;q ls Bhd iwoZ LdwVj ds :i esa ngst dh ekax dj mlds lkFk dzwjrk dk O;ogkj fd;k o ekjihV dj mls izrkfM+r fd;k] ftlls e`rdk dh vlkekU; ifjfLFkfr;ksa esa e`R;q gks xbZA gekjs fouez er esa fo}ku fopkj.k U;k;ky; us izR;FkhZx.k@vfHk;qDrx.k dks vkjksfir vijk/k varxZr /kkjk 498, o 304 ch Hkkjrh; naM lafgrk esa nks"keqDr djus esa dksbZ fof/k Hkwy o =qfV ugha dh gSA vr% vihykFkhZ dh vihy vLohdkj dj [kkfjt dh tkrh gSA fo}ku fopkj.k U;k;ky; }kjk ikfjr vkyksP; fu.kZ; fnukad 23-09-1995 dh iqf"V dh tkrh gSA vkns'k dh izfr fo}ku fopkj.k U;k;ky; dks vfHkys[k ds lkFk Hksth tkosA (CHANDRA PRAKASH SHRIMALI),J (MAHENDAR KUMAR GOYAL),J KISHAN SONI /Res.