Rajasthan High Court Overturns Murder Charges Against Mother in Infant Death Case
The Rajasthan High Court's principal seat at Jodhpur has delivered a significant ruling, setting aside a trial court order that had framed murder charges against a mother in the tragic death of her six-month-old daughter. The court has directed a fresh hearing in this emotionally charged case, highlighting serious procedural and investigative lapses.
Judicial Criticism of "Mechanical Approach"
Justice Farjand Ali, in a ruling delivered on January 22 and uploaded on Thursday, strongly criticized the Phalodi lower court's handling of the case. The single bench described the trial court's approach as "mechanical" and pointed out substantial flaws in both the police investigation and subsequent legal proceedings. The high court observed that the police investigation had "completely reversed the roles of the parties" by transforming the complainant into an accused, a fundamental error that compromised the entire judicial process.
Background of the Tragic Incident
The case dates back to February 10, 2021, when Reema, a forest officer currently stationed in Jhalawar, filed a complaint alleging that her husband Vikas, a deputy forest officer, along with her in-laws, had killed their infant daughter Kashvi. According to the First Information Report (FIR), Reema claimed she was assaulted by her husband and in-laws, and that her husband had allegedly strangled their six-month-old daughter. Reema further alleged that when she attempted to save her child, the three individuals forcefully fed her poison, leaving her vomiting and severely weakened. She managed to call her father, who took her to a hospital where her life was saved, but tragically, the infant did not survive.
Investigation Reversal and Judicial Oversight Failure
When the chargesheet was eventually filed, Reema found herself charged under IPC Section 302 for murder, despite being the original complainant and having her statement recorded under Section 164 of the Criminal Procedure Code. The high court noted that the police investigation appeared to have shielded her husband and in-laws from prosecution while targeting the mother. The bench observed that the trial court had relied too heavily on the police narrative without exercising proper judicial discretion. The court specifically noted that the lower court failed to explain the basis or evidence for framing murder charges against the mother, describing the trial court order as "cryptic and vague."
High Court's Directive for Fresh Consideration
The Rajasthan High Court emphasized that the trial court had failed to consider the factual background in which the investigating agency had turned the complainant into an accused. The bench set aside the March 18, 2025, order from the Phalodi trial court and remanded the matter back for fresh consideration. This ruling underscores the importance of judicial scrutiny in criminal proceedings and highlights how procedural errors can significantly impact justice delivery in sensitive cases involving family tragedies.
