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Vijaya Singh & Anr. vs. State of Uttarakhand

Not available · 2024 INSC 905Decided 25 Nov 2024
Not available
Justice Bela M. Trivedi · Justice Satish Chandra Sharma

Background

Devaki married Vijaya Singh in April 2002. More than a year later, on 14 September 2003, she died an unnatural death at her in-laws' house. Vijaya Singh and his mother, Basanti Devi, were accused of murdering her, and an FIR was registered at PS R.P. Jakholi, Rudraprayag district, Uttarakhand. Both the Trial Court and the Uttarakhand High Court convicted them, and they appealed to the Supreme Court.

Decision Breakdown

The Supreme Court held that the Trial Court and High Court had correctly appreciated the evidence and found no infirmity, illegality, or perversity in their concurrent findings. The Court specifically addressed the argument about delay in lodging the complaint, holding that a family member needs reasonable time to process the shock of a tragic death, and such delay does not undermine the prosecution's case, especially when other evidence is incriminating. Since two courts below had taken a consistent view, the Supreme Court declined to disturb it on mere conjecture, and dismissed the appeal, directing the appellants to surrender within two weeks if on bail.

Lesson Learnt

Courts will not disturb concurrent findings of guilt by a Trial Court and a High Court unless there is a clear illegality or perversity in the reasoning; and a reasonable delay by grieving family members in reporting a death is not, by itself, a ground to doubt the prosecution's case.

Official source (sci.gov.in)View Judgment (PDF)

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