SAKHAWAT v. THE STATE OF UTTAR PRADESH
Discusses fair trial, investigation standards, witness examination, and constitutional principles applicable across legal domains.
Court: Supreme Court of India
Citation: 2025 INSC 777
Decision Date: 23-05-2025
List of Laws
Indian Penal Code, 1860; Constitution of India, 1949; Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973
- Indian Penal Code, 1860: The judgment discusses Section 302 IPC (punishment for murder) and Section 307 IPC (attempt to murder) read with Section 34 IPC (acts done by several persons in furtherance of common intention). The High Court's judgment upheld the conviction of the appellants under these sections, sentencing them to life imprisonment. The Supreme Court, however, ultimately acquitted the appellants, finding the prosecution's investigation to be unfair and the evidence unreliable.
- Constitution of India, 1949: Article 21 of the Constitution of India, guaranteeing the right to a fair trial, is mentioned. The court notes that the accused is entitled to a fair trial and the police are obligated to conduct a fair investigation. The judgment also mentions that describing any court as a "Lower Court" is against the ethos of the Constitution.
- Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973: The judgment refers to the "elaborate provisions" in the CrPC for procuring the presence of witnesses during investigation. The Investigating Officer's failure to utilize these provisions to record supplementary statements from key eyewitnesses regarding affidavits they had filed is criticized.
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