Alka Verma –
Published On: November 1, 2021 at 19:30 IST
The Kerala High Court has ordered its Registry to facilitate all the Court Rooms with computers so that recording of Witness evidence can easily be done.
While dealing with a Criminal Case, a Division Bench comprising Justice K. Vinod Chandran and Justice Ziyad Rahman A.A. observed that readable copies had changed into the original deposition and the Bench stated that no one is guilty of this as the originals were not in a condition to be read.
However, the Court stated that evidence of each witness must be recorded either in the form of a narration or in a form of question answer.
Adding to this, the Court also stated that this can be typed word by word narrated by witnesses in the computer also.
“It is hence expedient that the Registry provides for computers inside the Court Hall for the purpose of dictation to be taken down as the examination of a witness proceeds,” stated the Bench.
Adding to this, the Bench stated that, “The readable copies must be transcribed with the aid of the Judicial Officer, who recorded the evidence, which in every circumstance, may not be possible. Or there should be a transcription carried out, immediately after the recording of evidence, which again would be time-consuming.”
The Court made these observations while it was hearing an Appeal filed by a migrant laborer.
The laborer was accused of gold chain snatching from a housewife as well as drowning her.
The man was booked under Sections 299, 300, 302 and 304 of the Indian Penal Code and was found guilty by the Trial Court.
About the incident, the High Court stated that, “The lure of gold has begotten more crimes than any reasonable man would think; often snuffing out innocent lives. ‘Crime doesn’t pay’ is an adage which the deviants, the desperate and some desperadoes pay little heed to.”
However, after noting that the Prosecutor through its argument has proved the guilt of the accused, the High Court rejected the Appeal.
Click here to read/download the Order
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