GOPAL vs STATE OF M.P.

The Supreme Court upheld the conviction of the appellant under Section 302 read with Section 34 IPC for the murder of Saraswati Bai, affirming the reliance on her dying declaration as credible evidence. The Court established that a dying declaration can be admissible if the declarant is in a fit state of mind, which was confirmed by the Executive Magistrate. The appellant's conviction and life sentence were thus maintained, with a fine imposed for the heinous act of setting the deceased ablaze, leading to her death due to extensive burns.