Supreme Court Cracks Down on Cluttered Criminal Trials with New Directions

Image Source: Internet

In a bid to simplify the complex process of criminal trials, the Supreme Court has issued a set of directives to trial courts across the country. The new guidelines aim to standardize the way evidence is presented in court, making it easier for judges, lawyers, and appellate courts to navigate through lengthy and often convoluted records. According to the court's directions, trial courts must now include tabulated charts in their verdicts, summarizing the details of witnesses, documents, and material objects presented during the trial. These charts will be an essential part of the judgment and must be prepared in a clear and structured format. The Supreme Court bench, comprising Justices Vikram Nath and Sandeep Mehta, emphasized the importance of a uniform practice in presenting evidence, saying it will enable efficient appreciation of the record and facilitate better comprehension among all stakeholders. The new guidelines require each criminal judgment to contain a witness chart with serial numbers, names of witnesses, and a brief description of their role. A separate chart will also be prepared for all documents exhibited during the trial, including exhibit numbers, descriptions, and the witnesses who proved or attested them. In complex cases, the court has allowed trial courts to prepare charts only for material, relevant, and relied-upon witnesses and documents. This will ensure that the charts remain functional reference tools rather than unwieldy compilations. The directives were issued while setting aside the conviction of a man accused of sexually assaulting a four-year-old girl. The court noted that the FIR in the case lacked basic details, such as the names of the accused and witnesses, highlighting the need for a standardized approach to presenting evidence.