NEW DELHI: The Supreme Court of India on wednesday, set aside the conviction of three men who were declared guilty by the Punjab & Haryana High Court almost 20 years after they were acquitted by the trial court in a murder case. A Supreme Court Bench comprising Justices JB Pardiwala and R Mahadevan expressed deep concerns about the standards of Public Prosecutors in High Courts. The Court criticized the way in which the Punjab & Haryana High Court overturned the acquittal based on the Public Prosecutor’s arguments.
Former Madras High Court judge Justice PN Prakash criticized the appointment of public prosecutors, pointing out that their political affiliations undermine the legal system. He also highlighted issues of perjury, civil suits, and language barriers faced by migrant workers in criminal cases. The discussion also covered the impact of civil disputes on criminal cases and the challenges faced by magistrates.
The CJI led bench of Supreme Court Today criticized Tamil Nadu Governor RN Ravi for refusing to reinstate a DMK leader into the state cabinet despite the court staying his conviction. The court emphasized the governor’s obligation to implement its orders and expressed intent to take serious action if the situation does not improve, adjourning the proceedings to the following day.
Today (19th March): The Governor of Tamil Nadu has declined to appoint K. Ponmudi as a minister due to legal uncertainties. The Supreme Court will review Tamil Nadu’s appeal in Ponmudi’s case following the state government’s challenge of the Governor’s decision. There is tension between the Raj Bhavan and the state government over Ponmudi’s reinstatement.