Madras HC Reduces Life Sentence for Woman Who Set Minor Daughter Ablaze to 10 Years in Jail

Madras HC Reduces Life Sentence for Woman Who Set Minor Daughter Ablaze to 10 Years in Jail

The Madras High Court has commuted the life sentence of a woman convicted for setting her 13-year-old daughter on fire, reducing her sentence to 10 years in prison. The decision was made by a bench comprising Justices PN Prakash (now retired) and G Jayachandran.

Case Background and Court Ruling

The court found that the woman’s conviction under Section 302 of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) could not be sustained and instead convicted her under Section 304(1) IPC. The bench noted that the incident stemmed from a quarrel between the mother and daughter over the latter’s lack of interest in studies. The case was altered to Section 302 IPC four months after the daughter succumbed to her injuries.

Incident Details

The 13-year-old victim was struggling academically, leading her parents to enroll her in a Government-aided Residential School in Kovilpatti. However, after only eight days, she escaped from the hostel and returned home, triggering a heated argument with her mother. In a fit of anger, the mother poured kerosene on her daughter and set her on fire.

Response and Legal Proceedings

The victim’s father, who was asleep during the argument, woke up upon hearing his daughter’s screams and rushed her to a government hospital in Kovilpatti. The victim had suffered 50% burns, according to the wound certificate. Her statement was recorded, and a case was initially registered under Section 307 IPC against the mother. A dying declaration was also recorded from the victim.

The victim received medical treatment for over four months, during which she was discharged and readmitted multiple times due to her burns not healing properly. Eventually, she succumbed to her injuries, prompting the case to be altered to Section 302 IPC. The trial court convicted the mother under Section 302 and sentenced her to life imprisonment with a fine of Rs 5,000.

High Court’s Decision

The mother challenged her conviction under Section 302 IPC before the high court. The court examined whether the mother intended to commit murder and concluded that she did not. Consequently, the high court allowed the appeal, convicting the mother under Section 304(1) IPC and sentencing her to 10 years of rigorous imprisonment along with a fine of Rs 5,000.

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