Supreme Court in its judgment on 30 October 2010 has shown serious concern over dowry deaths. The Supreme Court ruled that such cases should be treated as the rarest of rare ones and death penalty should be awarded to the offenders.
A Supreme Court bench consisting of Justice Markandey Katju and Justice TS Thakur in its judgment said that the term or expression rarest of rare does not mean that the act is uncommon, it means that the act is brutal and barbaric. Killing for dowry is barbaric.
The Supreme Court bench observed that crimes against women are social crimes. These crimes are not for property or committed in a fit of rage. Hence, crimes against women deserve harsh punishment. The bench added in its statement that any civilised society is recognised by the respect that it shows to its women. Indian society has become an uncivlised one where young women are killed by their husbands and in-laws by setting them on fire or strangulating them.
The Supreme Court made this observation with reference to the deceased Geeta who was killed for dowry by her husband and in-laws on 3 November, 2000.
According to the Supreme Court, this was really a case under Section 302 of IPC and death sentence should have been imposed in such a case, but since no charge was leveled under Section 302 of IPC, it could not rule so.
Earlier the accused had appealed against the High court judgment which had held them guilty under Sections 304 B, 498-A and section 4 of the Dowry Prohibition Act of the Indian Penal Code and awarded them life sentence. Supreme Court rejected their appeal and confirmed the High Court judgment.
Key Words: National, dowry killing, dowry deaths, Supreme Court, high court, crime against women, M. Katju
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