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Courts Must Properly Appreciate Evidence On Record Before Passing The Order For Coviction
Courts Must Properly Appreciate Evidence On Record Before Passing The Order For Coviction
SUBJECT:
The Hon’ble Supreme Court (hereinafter referred to as ‘the Court’), set-aside the impugned order
and judgement of the High Court and held that the Court must properly appreciate the evidence
on record before passing the order of conviction. An accused cannot be convicted simply due to
suspicion of the Court, no matter how grave.
IMPORTANT PROVISIONS
Section 27 - How much of information received from accused may be proved - Provided
that, when any fact is deposed to as discovered in consequence of information received
from a person accused of any offence, in the custody of a police officer, so much of such
information, whether it amounts to a confession or not, as relates distinctly to the fact
thereby discovered, may be proved.
BRIEF FACTS:
QUESTIONS RAISED:
Whether the High Court erred in upholding the conviction of the appellant?
Whether the impugned order and judgement passed by the High Court is in compliance
with the procedure established under law?
The Ld. Court observed that none of the Courts below ensured that the guilt of the
accused stands proved by the prosecution, beyond reasonable doubt. The Court noted that
no matter how probable or grave suspicion may be it cannot be substituted with the
evidence.
The Court also observed that there must be either circumstantial or direct evidence to
establish the guilt of the accused beyond reasonable doubt by the prosecution. Only upon
successful discharge of the burden of proof, the accused will be considered guilty.
It was noted by the Court that the impugned order and judgement passed by the High
Court is doubtful. The presumption of the guilt of the appellant is based on improper and
incomplete evidence. The Courts below have failed to properly appreciate the evidence
on record and have made a blatant error in passing the order for conviction of the
appellant which has resulted into travesty of justice.
CONCLUSION
The Ld. Court set-aside the impugned order and judgement of the High Court and held that the
Court must properly appreciate the evidence on record before passing the order of conviction. An
accused cannot be convicted simply due to suspicion of the Court, no matter how grave.