Headline
The Supreme Court of India said that extra-judicial confession is a “Weak Type” of evidence.
Summary
The Supreme Court of India overturned the judgment of Bombay High Court that convicted a accused of murder dependent upon an extra-judicial confession. The Bench stresses that such confessions need proper scrutiny and must be free of suspicion, coercion, or inducement.
Key Facts
- Case Name: Sadashiv Dhondiram Patil vs. State of Maharashtra,
- Judges Name: Justice J.B. Pardiwala and Justice R. Mahadevan.
- The deceased, married to the accused, was discovered dead in their house after going missing for several days.
- The High Court relied on the confession of the accused to a Village Police Patil, deeming it admissible.
Legal Insights
- Extra-judicial confessions are admissible but need reliability .
- Section 106 of the Evidence Act is applicable only after the prosecution shows foundational facts.
- Motive alone cannot support a murder conviction.
Impact
This judgment strengthens on the cautious application of extra-judicial confessions and states the prosecution’s burden to prove the cases beyond reasonable doubt.
Why it Matters
The ruling shows the role of the judiciary in making sure fairness and controlling miscarriages of justice based on weak evidence.
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