Lawstreet Journal

Right of Accused to Cross-Examination cannot be Closed on Account of Absence of his Counsel; Duty of Court to Provide Legal Aid: Himachal Pradesh HC

Lawstreet Journal 23 Oct 2020 10:56pm

Image courtesy: Lawstreet Journal Judiciary Right of Accused to Cross-Examination cannot be Closed on Account of Absence of his Counsel; Duty of Court to Provide Legal Aid: Himachal Pradesh HC

The order passed by Single Bench of Justice Sandeep Sharma in the case Lovely v. State of Himachal Pradesh is one of the best examples of the exercise of inherent power by the High Court under Section 482 of Cr.P.C. in the interest of justice. 

Himachal Pradesh High Court recently observed, “Right to cross-examine vested in the petitioner could not have been closed by learned Court below, on account of the absence of his counsel, rather, in that situation, the court should have provided some legal aid counsel to the accused,” 

The petitioner in the present case approached the High court under section 439 of Cr.P.C for regular bail. During the course of the hearing, he challenged an order dated April 8, 2019, of the Trial Court, whereby his right to cross-examine the prosecution witnesses was closed, on account of the absence of his counsel. The petitioner pleaded the Court to exercise its inherent powers under Section 482 of Cr.P.C. and quash the said order and restore his right to cross-examination. 

The Court held that the lower court should have provided some legal aid to the Petitioner in order to conduct the cross-examination and further held that the Court below “ought to have adjourned the cross-examination”. 

“one cannot lose sight of the fact that it is the petitioner, who has suffered on account of non-appearance of the counsel, as a consequence of which his right to cross-examine prosecution witnesses has been closed. The petitioner who is behind the bars even may not be aware… Continue Reading...


Tagged: Himachal Pradesh High Court  
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