Arguing before a trial court is like playing a Test match, while appeals are like IPL matches: Madras High Court
The Madras High Court compared the pace of trial court proceedings to a Test cricket match and appellate court hearings to a T-20 match. The court emphasized that a fair trial is a fundamental right and that a conviction cannot be upheld without hearing the defense.
Why it matters
It highlights the judicial philosophy regarding the balance between procedural efficiency and the fundamental right to a fair trial in the Indian legal system.
Arguing a criminal case before a trial court is like playing a cricket Test match for five days, whereas arguing the same case before an appellate court is comparable to an Indian Premier League (IPL) T-20 game, decided within a few hours, the Madras High Court has said. A Division Bench of Justices G.R. Swaminathan and V. Lakshminarayanan drew the analogy while holding that an accused in a criminal case cannot be allowed to waive his/her fundamental right to a fair trial, and that a conviction cannot be recorded without hearing the defence arguments.
The article reports on judicial observations without taking a political stance or favoring a specific party.
Get smarter about the news
Sign up free for a feed built around what you actually care about, Dive Deeper research on any story, and the full text of every article.
Create free accountAlready have an account? Sign in