In Brief
Govind Singh, a father, threw a burning chimney lamp at his daughter Lalita during a sudden quarrel over a light bulb, causing severe burn injuries that led to her death seven days later. The trial court convicted him under Section 302 IPC (murder) with life imprisonment, which the High Court affirmed. The Supreme Court modified the conviction to Section 304 Part-II IPC (causing death by act endangering life) because the act occurred in a sudden quarrel with no premeditation, falling within Exception 4 to Section 300 IPC. The life sentence was reduced to the period already undergone (approximately eleven years and eight months), and the appellant was ordered released.
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