Supreme Court Awards Life Imprisonment for Dowry Murder, Questions Societal Role

NEW DELHI: Supreme Court on Monday awarded life imprisonment to a man for murdering his wife for dowry, highlighting how parents' anxiety to save the marriage of their daughters may push many women into a death trap by sending them back to matrimonial homes despite complaints of torture. Amidst growing number of dowry cases, apex court began its judgment by throwing open a question for society to ponder. "Could the life of young Soma Acharjee have been saved? Did the fear of societal opprobrium result in Soma being thrown to the wolves?" a bench of Justices P K Mishra and K V Viswanathan asked. The court noted that Soma had repeatedly informed her parents about the harassment she faced, but was sent back after elders attempted to patch up her relationship with her husband. Calling the case an eye-opener, Justice Viswanathan, who penned the judgment, said: "She repeatedly made entreaties to her parents to save her and even came to her parental home and stayed with them for a few days. However, every time she raised the issue, efforts were made to effect a patch-up and send her back to the matrimonial home." The top court said village elders were involved and resolutions were passed after purported compromises. "Soma's near and dear ones naively believed that somehow the situation would turn for the good. A false sense of optimism engulfed them. Their hopes were betrayed when Soma met with a tragic end at her matrimonial home," it said. Rejecting the husband's plea that Soma had died by suicide after her body was found hanging 15 months into the marriage, the court said medical and other evidence clearly pointed to murder linked to dowry harassment. It noted evidence on record showed Soma was tortured over demands for a motorcycle, TV and other goods, with her parents yielding to some demands. "The injuries found on the body of the deceased are not consistent with an ordinary case of suicidal hanging," the court observed, adding that the ante mortem injuries were not capable of being self-inflicted. The bench said the medical evidence indicated Soma had been subjected to violence before her death, thereby negating the theory of suicide and pointing to a case of "simulated hanging".