High Courts Can’t Use Suo Motu Powers to Enhance Punishment or Add Charges Without Appeal: Supreme Court

The Supreme Court of India clarified that High Courts cannot autonomously increase punishments or introduce new charges without appeals from the state or victim. This ruling followed Nagarajan’s case, where the High Court unjustly enhanced his sentence for abetment of suicide. The Supreme Court restored his original conviction under Sections 354 and 448 IPC.