The Supreme Court has instructed appellate courts across India to notify convicts at their registered addresses before appointing an amicus curiae to argue their appeals.
This decision aims to prevent convicts from claiming they were unaware of their cases being argued by court-appointed lawyers, which can undermine the fairness of criminal proceedings.
According to the court, many convicts lose interest in their cases after securing bail, leading to difficulties for appellate courts in proceeding with hearings.
To address this issue, the Supreme Court has ordered that courts should make a genuine effort to inform convicts by issuing notice at their available address before appointing an amicus curiae.
This procedural safeguard serves a dual purpose: protecting convicts' right to representation of choice while insulating judicial decisions from subsequent challenge on procedural grounds.
