Allowed

Smt. Raju Devi v. State and Ors.

Rajasthan HC7 May 2024CRLR/22/2005

Case brief

AI extract

What is this about?

In a criminal revision petition challenging an enhanced sentence and a finding of torture against a woman, the High Court found the conviction presumptive based on the delay in reporting. The court held that without evidence explaining the delay, the presumption of guilt was legally unsustainable, leading to the quashing of the order.

What did the court decide?

The sentence enhancement and the order sentencing the petitioner to torture by the Additional Sessions Judge dated 07-10-2004 were quashed.

Smt. Raju Devi Vs State and Ors. — Constitutional and Fundamental Rights | Rajasthan HC (2024)

¶1

[2024:RJ-JD:19975]

¶2

HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE FOR RAJASTHAN AT JODHPUR

¶3

S.B. Criminal Revision Petition No. 22/2005

¶4

Smt. 'R' W/o Shri 'RR', R/o Village Patlisar, Tehsil Sardar Shahar, District Churu.

¶5

----Petitioner

¶6

Versus

¶7

The State of Rajasthan.

¶8

Gulab Singh S/o Shri Karni Singh,

¶9

Mukna Ram S/o Shri Aasha Ram,

¶10

Ram Swroop S/o Shri Lichhman Ram

¶11

All R/o Village Patalisar Tehsil Sardar Shahar, District Churu.

¶12

----Respondent

¶13

For Petitioner(s)	: Mr.	Ramavtar Singh
	Mr.	J.K. Suthar
For Respondent(s)	: Mr.	Arun Kumar, PP
	Mr.	Devi Singh

¶14

HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE YOGENDRA KUMAR PUROHIT

¶15

Judgment

¶16

Reserved On 01/05 /2024 Pronounced On 07/05/2024

¶17

01fuxjkuhdrkZ&ifjoknh }kjk ;g fuxjkuh fof'k"V U;k;k/kh'k] vuqlwfpr tkfr tutkfr vR;kpkj fuokj.k ekeys] pw: ds fof'k"B izdj.k la[;k 42@03 jkT; cuke xqykcflag oxSjk esa ikfjr fu.kZ; fnukad 07-10-2004 ls O;fFkr gksdj izLrqr dh xbZ gSA

¶18

02la{ksi esa ekeys ds rF; bl izdkj ls gSa fd ihfM+rk Jherh ^vkj* us ,d tqckuh lwpuk iqfyl Fkkuk ljnkj'kgj ds le{k fnukad 16-06-2003 dks 3 ih,e ij bl vk'k; dh is'k dh fd jkr dks djhc 11 cts ?kj ls ?kM+k ysdj dqvk ij ikuh ysus tk jgh Fkh rc xkao dh xqokM+ esa xqykcflag jktiwr dh nqdku ds lkeus igqaph rks jkeLo:i o eqdukjke nksuksa us fuxjkuhdrkZ dks mBkdj xqykc flag dh nqdku ds vanj ys x,A xqykc flag dh nqdku ds vanj gh nksuksa us fuxjkuhdrkZ dks xqykc flag dks idM+k fn;k vkSj fQj nqdku ls ckgj vkdj 'kV~Vj yxkdj rkyk yxk fn;kA nqdku ds vanj xqykc flag us fuxjkuhdrkZ dks tcjnLrh uhps iVddj ?kk?kjk Åapk djds mlds lkFk cykRdkj fd;kA nqdku ds vkxs rkyk gksus ds dkj.k jkr Hkj nksuksa

[2024:RJ-JD:19975]

[CRLR-22/2005]

(2 of 6)

nqdku esa gh jgs lqcg mlds ifr o llqj us xkao okyksa ds lkeus rkyk [kqyok;k o fuxjkuhdrkZ dks Fkkuk ysdj vk, oxSjk fjiksVZ ij izFke lwpuk fjiksVZ la[;k 157@03] vUrxZr /kkjk 376] 342] 365] 120ch Hkkjrh; n.M lafgrk o /kkjk 3¼1½¼xii½ ,llh@,lVh ,DV esa ntZ dj rQ~rh'k dh xbZA

¶23

03ckn rQ~rh'k fo}ku v/khuLFk U;k;ky; ds le{k vfHk;qDr xqykc flag ds fo:) /kkjk 376] 342] 363@120ch Hkkjrh; n.M lafgrk o /kkjk 3¼1½¼xii½ ,llh@,lVh ,DV rFkk eqfYteku jkeLo:i o xq:ukud ds fo:) /kkjk 365] 342] 376@120ch Hkkjrh; n.M lafgrk esa pkyku is'k fd;k x;kA v/khuLFk U;k;ky; }kjk cgl pktZ lquh tkdj mDr /kkjkvksa esa vkjksi vyx ls fojfpr dj vfHk;qDrx.k dks lquk;k o le>k;k x;k rks vijk/k ls badkj dj vUoh{kk pkghA fopkj.k ds nkSjku vfHk;kstu i{k dh vksj ls 8 xokgku ds c;ku djok, x, vkSj vfHk;qDr ds /kkjk 313 lhvkj-ih-lh- ds rgr c;ku eqfYte fy, x,] vkSj cpko i{k us 2 xokgku djokdj lk{; lekIr ?kksf"kr dhA cgl lquh tkdj vfHk;qDrx.k dks fu.kZ; fnukad 07-10-2004 ds eqrkfcd nks"keqDr djkj fn;k x;kA ftlds fo:) ;g fuxjkuh eqLrxhl i{k dh vksj ls izLrqr dh xbZ gSA

¶24

04fuxjkuhdrkZ }kjk viuh fuxjkuh esa ;g fuosnu fd;k fd v/khuLFk U;k;ky; dk fu.kZ; i=koyh ij miyC/k rF;ksa ds foijhr gS vkSj v/khuLFk U;k;ky; }kjk dsoy bl vk/kkj ij vfHk;qDr dks cjh fd;k x;k fd fuxjkuhdrkZ }kjk dksbZ fojks/k ugha fd;k x;kA tcfd v/khuLFk U;k;ky; esa viuh lk{; esa ihfM+rk&fuxjkuhdrkZ }kjk Li"V :i ls fojks/k djuk crk;k gSA ftl ij xqykcflag }kjk /kedh nsuk Hkh viuh lk{; esa crk;k gS] vkSj ;g lk{; nh gS fd xqykcflag }kjk /kedk;k x;k fd ;fn fpYykbZ rks jkWM ls ekjsxkA ihfM+rk us ftjg esa ;g crk;k gS fd mlus vfHk;qDr xqykcflag dks /kDdk fn;k Fkk ijarq bl rF; dks v/ khuLFk U;k;ky; }kjk fopkj ugha fd;k] bl dkj.k ls v/khuLFk U;k;ky; dk fu.kZ; pyus ;ksX; ugha gSA

¶25

05,Q-,l-,y- fjiksVZ esa ;g Li"V gS fd izn'kZ 4 o 5 esa ekuo oh;Z ik;k x;k] mlls cykRdkj gksuk Li"V gSA jkeLo:i o eqdukjke }kjk ;kph dks tcju ys tk;k x;k vkSj xqykcflag dh nqdku esa QSad fn;k vkSj eqdukjke o jkeLo:i us 'kV~Vj can dj fn;k] ftl lk{; dks u ekuus dk dksbZ dkj.k bl ekeys esa ugha Fkk] ,slh lwjr esa fof/kfo:) rjhds ls vfHk;qDrx.k dks nks"keqDr djkj fn;k tkuk crkrs gq, fuxjkuh Lohdkj dj v/khuLFk U;k;ky; dk vkns'k fnukad 07-10-2004

[2024:RJ-JD:19975]

[CRLR-22/2005]

(3 of 6)

fujLr dj izdj.k dks fjek.M dj iqu% lk{; ij fopkj djrs gq, fu.kZ; ikfjr dj vfHk;qDrx.k dks nks"kh Bgjk, tkus ds funsZ'k fn, tkus dh izkFkZuk dhA

¶30

06cgl fuxjkuh lquh xbZA fuxjkuhdrkZ ds fo}ku vf/koDrk }kjk fuxjkuh esa of.kZr rF;ksa dks rdksZa ds :i esa izLrqr fd;k vkSj v/khuLFk U;k;ky; dk fu.kZ; lk{; ds foijhr gksuk crkrs gq, fu.kZ; fujLr fd, tkus dh izkFkZuk dh vkSj fuxjkuh Lohdkj fd, tkus dk fuosnu fd;kA

¶31

07fo}ku yksd vfHk;kstd o fo}ku vf/koDrk vfHk;qDrx.k dh vksj ls bldk l[r fojks/k djrs gq, fo}ku v/khuLFk U;k;ky; dk fu.kZ; lk{; o fof/k ij vk/kkfjr gksuk crk;k vkSj v/khuLFk U;k;ky; ds fu.kZ; esa ih-MCY;w01 ihfM+rk ds lk{; ds foospu o ih-MCY;w02 gM+ekukjke tks fd ihfM+rk dk nsoj gS dh lk{; ds foospu dh vksj vkdf"kZr djrs gq, v/khuLFk U;k;ky; dk fu.kZ; fof/klEer gksuk crkrs gq, fuxjkuh [kkfjt fd, tkus dk fuosnu fd;kA

¶32

08eSaus mijksDr rdksZa ij euu fd;k] fuxjkuh esa fy, x, vk/kkjksa o fo}ku v/khuLFk U;k;ky; }kjk ikfjr fu.kZ; o v/khuLFk U;k;ky; dh i=koyh esa tks ekSf[kd o nLrkosth lk{; ekStwn gS] mu ij fopkj fd;kA

¶33

09bl ekeys esa ihfM+rk crkSj ih-MCy;w01 ijhf{kr gqbZ gS vkSj p'enhn lk{kh ds :i esa ihfM+rk dk nsoj crkSj ih-MCY;w 02 ds :i esa ijhf{kr gqvk gSA ftudh lk{; ij xgjkbZ ls fopkj fd;k x;kA izFke lwpuk fjiksVZ esa ihfM+rk us vfHk;qDr xqykc flag dk viuh nqdku esa cSBs gksuk vkSj jkeLo:i o eqdukjke nqdku ds ckgj gksuk rFkk jkeLo:i o eqdukjke nksuksa }kjk ihfM+rk dks mBkdj xqykcflag dh nqdku ds vanj ys tkuk vkSj xqykcflag dks idM+kuk crk;k gS tcfd U;k;ky; esa tks ih-MCY;w 01 ds :i esa lk{; nh xbZ] mlesa eq[; ijh{kk esa gh izFke lwpuk fjiksVZ ds foijhr ;g lk{; nh dh xqykcflag] eqdukjke o jkeLo:i ckgj [kM+s Fks] ftUgksaus ihfM+rk dks tcjnLrh idM+ fy;k vkSj xqykcflag dh nqdku ds vanj iVd fn;kA

¶34

10ihfM+rk }kjk viuh lk{; esa ikuh Hkjus ds fy, dqa, dh vksj tkuk crk;k gS vkSj ftjg esa crk;k fd Lo;a ds ?kj ls xqykc flag dh nqdku ,d ?kj vkxs gS vkSj nqdku ds lkeus ikuh ykus tkrs le; idM+uk crk;k gSA ikuh dk ?kM+k Lo;a ds gkFk ls fxj tkuk oks QqVk ;k ugh] bldk irk ugha gksuk crk;kA tc ikuh dk ?kM+k fxjk rks og QqVk vFkok ugh] bldh tkudkjh ihfM+rk dks gksuk fuf'pr gSA ijarq bl rF; ds ckjs esa Li"Vhdj.k ihfM+rk }kjk ugha fn;k x;k] ftlls fd ihfM+rk dks tcju ys tk;k x;k lansgkLin izrhr gksrk gSA

(4 of 6)

[2024:RJ-JD:19975]

[CRLR-22/2005]

11bl ekeys esa viuh ftjg esa ihfM+rk us ;g dgk fd ihfM+rk ds gkFkksa dh pqfM+;k Hkh idM+us ij VwVh Fkh vkSj ekSds ij fxjh FkhA ihfM+rk us idM+us ij jksyk fd;k Fkk] ihfM+rk dk nsoj jksyk djus ij ihNs ls vk;k FkkA ihfM+rk ds nsoj us pqfM+;ksa ds laca/k esa crkSj ih-MCy~;w 02 viuh lk{; esa dgk gS fd ekSds ij VwVh pqfM+;ksa dks ugha ns[kk] ,slh voLFkk esa ?kVuk ds p'enhn Lkk{kh us ekSds ij VwVh gqbZ pqfM+;k ugha ns[kuk crk;k vkSj ihfM+rk Lo;a ds pqfM+;k VwVuk crkrh gS] ftlls vfHk;kstu dh dgkuh lansgkLin izrhr gksrh gSA

¶39

12bl ekeys esa ih-MCY;w01 ihfM+rk }kjk viuh lk{; esa gh ;g Li"V fd;k gS fd ihfM+rk ikuh ysus tk jgh Fkh] rc mlds nsoj us vfHk;qDrx.k dks tcjnLrh ihfM+rk dks nqdku esa Mkyrs ns[k Hkh fy;k Fkk vkSj ih-MCY;w02 ihfM+rk ds nsoj us ;g dgk gS fd ihfM+rk mldh HkkHkh mlls FkksM+k vkxs ikuh ysus ds fy, tk jgh FkhA ftjg esa HkkHkh ds ihNs 15&20 ikoM+k nwjh ij gksuk crk;k gSA ihMCY;w02 }kjk ;g crk;k fd nqdku ds vkxs eqdukjke o jkeLo:i us lk{kh ds igqapus ls igys xqykcflag dh nqdku esa ihfM+rk dks Mky fn;k] tks tcjnLrh MkykA lk{kh us idM+us&idM+us dh vkokt lqu+hA lk{kh dks ns[kdj jkeLo:i o eqdukjke Hkkx x, vkSj xqykcflag dh nqdku dk 'kV~Vj Hkh can iM+k FkkA lk{kh us ?kj ij ckr crkbZA HkkbZ jRrh jke rkÅ ds csVksa dks cqykdj yk;k FkkA jRrh jke vk;k vkSj jRrhjke ljnkj 'kgj Fkkus ij vk;k] ftlds lkFk [ksekjke Hkh vk;kA lk{kh dk HkkbZ :ikjke firkth dks cqykus x;kA firkth lqcg 9 cts vk,A lqcg 7 cts ls Fkkusnkj th us lk{kh ds HkkHkh dks nqdku ls fudyok;k Fkk vkSj lk{kh dh HkkHkh us ?kVuk ckcr lk{kh ds HkkbZ dks crk;kA izFke lwpuk fjiksVZ esa ;g dgk gS fd nqdku ds vkxs rkyk gksus ds dkj.k jkr Hkj nksuksa nqdku esa gh jgsA lqcg ifr o llqj us xkao okyksa ds lkeus rkyk [kqyok;k o mls Fkkus ysdj x,A

¶40

13ih-MCy;w01 us viuh lk{; esa ;g crk;k gS fd nqdku ls fudydj lk{kh dks ?kj ysdj x, vkSj fQj lk{kh vius llqj o ifr ds lkFk Fkkus ij xbZ Fkh] blesa Hkh fojks/kkHkk"k gS fd ihfM+rk dks mlds ifr o llqj }kjk xkao okyksa ds lkFk vfHk;qDr xqykcflag dh nqdku ls fudkyk vFkok iqfyl okys ekSds ij vk,] ftUgksaus fudkykA blls Hkh vfHk;kstu dh dgkuh lansgkLin izrhr gksrh gSA

¶41

14bl ekeys esa ih-MC;yw01 o ih-MCY;w02 dh lk{; ds eqrkfcd tc ihfM+rk ds nsoj ih-MCY;w02 }kjk ihfM+rk dks xqykcflag dh nqdku esa tcjnLrh ys tkrs ns[k fy;k] ml voLFkk esa jkr 11 cts ls ysdj lqcg 7 cts rd ihfM+rk dk nsoj vkSj ih-MCY;w02 dh lk{; ds eqrkfcd ihfM+rk ds ifr ?kj ij Fkk] ftldks

(5 of 6)

[2024:RJ-JD:19975]

[CRLR-22/2005]

ihfM+rk us ?kVuk ds ckjs esa crk;k rks ihfM+rk dk ifr xkao okyksa dks ysdj nqdku ij D;ksa ugha vk;k vkSj nqdku ds 'kV~Vj dks D;ksa ugha [kV[kVk;kA jkrHkj ihfM+rk xqykcflag ds nqdku ds vanj gh jgh] mlds ckotwn jkr 11 cts ls ysdj lqcg 7 cts rd iqfyl dks D;ksa ugha cqyk;kA ;g rF; vius vki esa gh vfHk;kstu dh dgkuh dks lansgkLin cukrk gSA

¶46

15cpko i{k dh vksj ls Mh-MCY;w 01 ds :i esa bZ'kjjke ijhf{kr gqvk gS] ftlds ,d dejs dks nqdku ds :i esa xqykc flag iz;ksx esa ys jgk gS] ftldks dejk fdjk;s ij fn;k gksuk xokg us crk;k vkSj bl dejs esa 2 njokts gksuk ,d njoktk ckgj [kqyuk o nwljk ?kj ds vanj [kqyuk xokg us crk;k gS vkSj ;g Li"V dgk gS fd xqykc flag dks fn, bl fdjk;slqnk dejs esa ;fn dksbZ ckrphr gksrh gS rks mUgsa ?kj ij vklkuh ls lqukbZ iM+ tkrh gSA fnukad 15-06-2003 dks og vius ?kj Fkk o ml fnu og jk=h esa Hkh vius ?kj ij Fkk] ihfM+rk ds lkFk dksbZ ckrphr ugha gqbZA ihfM+rk dks nqdku esa fdlh us can ugha fd;k] mlds lkFk dksbZ tksj tcjnLrh ugha gqbZA iqfyl xkao esa vkbZ] mlls rhu jkst iwoZ 'kke ds 4 cts dh ckr gS] ihfM+rk dk ifr o xqykcflag ds e/; :i;s ds ysu&nsu dh ckrphr gks xbZ FkhA xkao esa ikuh dh dksbZ fdYyr ugha gksuk vkSj vkWiu oSy dqavk gksuk] ftl ij fctyh yxh gksuk o ,d V~;wcosy gksuk crk;k gSA ihfM+rk dks xqykcflag dh nqdku ds vkxs ls gksdj ikuh ysus tkuk ugha iM+rkA ihfM+rk ds ?kj dk njoktk nf{k.k dh vksj gS vkSj mlds ?kj ds vkxs gh ikuh dh Vadh gSA ihfM+rk us >wBk eqdnek fd;k gS] dksbZ ckr ugha gqbZ gSA ftjg esa bl rF; dks xyr crk;k fd xqykcflag fdjk;snkj gksus ds dkj.k mls cpkus ds fy, >wBk c;ku fn;k gSA

¶47

16tgka rd ,Q-,l-,y- fjiksVZ izn'kZ 10 dk iz'u gS] ftlesa ihfM+rk ds ?kk?kjk o vfHk;qDr dh pMMh esa ekuo oh;Z ik, tkus dk vadu gS] ij bl fjiksVZ esa flfj;ksykWth fMfotu dks izn'kZ 3 ls 5 iSdsV ekdZ Mh-ch-lh- dh tkap gsrq Hkstk x;k vafdr gSA ftldh tkap fjiksVZ v/khuLFk U;k;ky; esa iznf'kZr ugha djokbZ xbZA ftlls ?kk?kjk o pMMh ds ekuo oh;Z dk vafre fu"d"kZ i=koyh ij is'k ugha gqvkA

¶48

17,slh voLFkk esa iwoZ esa fd, x, foospu ls fo}ku v/khuLFk U;k;ky; }kjk tks Lkk{; dk foospu dj izdj.k dk fu"d"kZ fudkyrs gq, vfHk;qDr&izR;FkhZx.k dks nks"keqDr djkj fn;k x;k gS] og fu.kZ; lk{; o fof/k ij vk/kkfjr gksus ls mlesa gLr{ksi fd;k tkuk U;k;ksfpr izrhr ugha gksrkA fuxjkuhdrkZ dh fuxjkuh [kkfjt fd, tkus ;ksX; gS vkSj v/khuLFk U;k;ky; dk fu.kZ; iqf"V fd, tkus ;ksX; gSA

(6 of 6)

[2024:RJ-JD:19975]

[CRLR-22/2005]

18vr% fuxjkuhdrkZ@eqLrxhl@ihfM+rk dh fuxjkuh [kkfjt dh tkrh gS vkSj fo}ku v/khuLFk U;k;ky; fof'k"V U;k;k/kh'k] vuqlwfpr tkfr tutkfr vR;kpkj fuokj.k ekeys] pw: ds fof'k"B izdj.k la[;k 42@03 jkT; cuke xqykcflag oxSjk esa ikfjr fu.kZ; fnukad 07-10-2004 dh iqf"V dh tkrh gSA

¶53

19fu.kZ; dh ,d izfr ds lkFk v/khuLFk U;k;ky; dh i=koyh ykSVkbZ tk,aA

¶54

(YOGENDRA KUMAR PUROHIT),J

¶55

4-mayank/-

Smt. Raju Devi v. State and Ors.

Case brief

What is this about?

What did the court decide?

Smt. Raju Devi v. State and Ors.

Case brief

What is this about?

What did the court decide?

What the court decided

A compact analysis

Issues for consideration

Parties & counsel

Coram

Case details

Similar cases

Hanuman Ram Vs State of Rajasthan

Manish @ Laduram Vs State of Rajasthan

Ramlal Vs State of Rajasthan

Bhala Ram Vs State of Rajasthan

Vimla Devi Vs State of Rajasthan

Gurjeet Singh Vs Shyam Sunder and Anr.