The Hindu : Life term confirmed in dowry death case

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Friday, Aug 22, 2003

Southern States

Southern States - Tamil Nadu

Life term confirmed in dowry death case

By A. Subramani

CHENNAI AUG. 21. The evil of dowry will die a natural death only if women are given education and economic independence, a Division Bench of the Madras High Court has observed.

Confirming the life imprisonment awarded to a man convicted for murdering his wife for dowry, the Bench comprising Justice M. Karpagavinayagam and Justice S. Ashok Kumar asked the Government to enact `suitable legislation' for giving compulsory education and economic independence to women.

Describing dowry deaths a `disturbing phenomenon', the judges also expressed concern over the spate of dowry-related news and wanted society to be `ridden of this growing evil'. The judges were passing orders on an appeal against a trial court judgment convicting Chandrasekaran, Rathinam and Lakshmi of Anbil Mangammalpuram, near Tiruchi, for having harassed and murdered Chandrasekaran's wife, Vanitha, who could not bring `first Pongal dowry (thalai Pongal seervarisai)'.

Vanitha's harassment started about six months after her marriage to Chandrasekaran in 1997. He demanded a cow, goat and a moped (TVS 50) as dowry for first Pongal. About a year after that, Vanitha was sent back to her parents because they could not meet the demands.

After the couple's reunion at the instance of village elders, Vanitha wrote a letter to her parents pleading with them either to pay the dowry or take her back, or `she would be killed'.

On November 9, 1998, her parents received a message that Vanitha had committed suicide, but when they came to Mangammalpuram, her husband and parents-in-law had fled the spot. A complaint was lodged with Lalgudi police the next morning. Finding them all guilty, the II Additional Sessions Judge in Tiruchi awarded life term to Chandrasekaran and sentenced his parents to eight years RI in addition to fine.

Partly allowing their present appeal, the Madras High Court confirmed the life term for Chandrasekaran as well as the 8-year RI for his mother, Lakshmi. Their fine sum of Rs. 15,000 and Rs. 10,000 respectively was also upheld. The judges, however, acquitted Chandrasekaran's father Rathinam.

Giving reasons, the judges said, "The main evidence is the letter written by Vanitha to her parents. In that letter she specifically alleged the torture at the hands of her husband and mother-in-law alone. Since it cannot be said that there are sufficient materials to convict her father-in-law, he is liable to be acquitted getting the benefit of doubt."

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