10 Nov 2023 1:04 PM GMT
The Supreme Court recently raised concerns about the material witness depositions not being placed on record. The Court lamented that such omissions frequently lead to repeated adjournments contributing to the backlog and delay in the resolution of appeals.
The Supreme Court bench comprising Justices Sanjay Karol and Justice Abhay S. Oka was hearing an appeal against a Kerala High Court judgment in a murder case. Notably, the conviction of the appellants was upheld by the apex court in this case after this tragedy took place 20 years ago.
in a bid to expedite the process and enhance efficiency, the Court reviewed Order XX of the Supreme Court Rules, 2013, particularly sub-rules 2 and 3 of Rule 5, which stipulate the procurement of physical copies of original records in criminal appeals, primarily those involving life sentences or the death penalty.
The Court has recommended amendments to streamline the requisition of case records in criminal appeals as follows-
Emphasizing transparency and accessibility, the court directed the “Registry to place a copy of this judgment before Hon’ble the Chief Justice of India for his kind consideration and appropriate directions, should he deem fit.”
Also from the judgment - Supreme Court Explains Essentials To Prove Conspiracy While Affirming Life Sentence To Convicts In Kerala Hooch Tragedy
Case title: Sajeev v. State of Kerala
Citation: 2023 LiveLaw (SC) 974