Archive · 31 Dec 2025
J-K Woman Freed After 46-Year Culpable Homicide Case
A woman named Shameema Begum from Jammu and Kashmir was in court for 46 years because of a fight that happened a long time ago.
She was accused of hurting her husband's grandmother, and the grandmother died a few days later.
The court said she didn't plan to hurt anyone, and she was in jail for a while.
The court decided to let her go because she is now 70 years old and has been through a lot.
The judge also said that the court system is too slow and needs to be better.
Shameema Begum was accused of causing grievous injuries to her husband's grandmother in 1979, leading to the grandmother's death four days later.
The trial lasted 30 years, and Begum was convicted under Section 304-II of IPC in 2009, sentenced to five years of rigorous imprisonment.
Begum appealed the sentence, and the High Court of Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh closed the case after 46 years, setting her free.
The court noted that the offense was committed in the heat of passion without premeditation and that Begum had suffered incarceration and prolonged proceedings.
The court treated the sentence as already undergone and imposed a fine of Rs 5,000, with the option of three months of simple imprisonment in default of payment.
- Who
- Shameema Begum, a 70-year-old woman from Uri, Baramulla district, Jammu and Kashmir
- What
- Culpable homicide not amounting to murder
- When
- Incident occurred on July 10, 1979; case closed on December 30, 2023
- Where
- Jammu and Kashmir, India
- Why
- The case was closed due to prolonged proceedings and the woman's age and infirmities
- Accused
- Shameema Begum
- Victim
- Husband's grandmother
- Incident Date
- July 10, 1979
- Conviction Date
- July 16, 2009
- Appeal Disposal Date
- December 30, 2023
- Sentence
- 5 years rigorous imprisonment
- Fine
- Rs 5,000
- Court
- High Court of Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh
