The Supreme Court expressed severe displeasure on October 26 over a shoddy and negligent investigation conducted by the Uttar Pradesh police in a murder case, directing the state government to pay Rs 6 lakh as compensation to a man who languished in prison as an undertrial for six full years. The apex court termed the individual a victim of the system, noting that six years of his life were completely wasted due to a fabricated narrative built entirely on speculations and conjectures.
Observations by Justices J.B. Pardiwala and K. Vinod Chandran
A bench comprising Justices J.B. Pardiwala and K. Vinod Chandran firmly stated that the state cannot shirk its fundamental responsibility to protect citizens, particularly when an accused person in a criminal case is legally presumed innocent until proven guilty. The bench underscored that the core duty of investigative and prosecuting agencies is not merely to secure convictions by any means possible, but to serve as a vital pillar of the justice delivery system.
The judges emphasized that these agencies must view themselves as guardians of fairness, whose objective is to ensure justice not only for the victims, complainants, and injured parties, but also for the accused. The bench remarked that while the mockery of justice is witnessed in numerous matters, certain cases are so shockingly blatant that compensation must be awarded to the accused because they suffered directly as victims of systemic failure.
Challenge Against Allahabad High Court Order
The ruling of the highest court came in response to a petition filed by an accused person challenging an order passed by the Allahabad High Court in January, which had earlier denied him bail in a case registered in Agra back in 2019. The court noted that on March 23, it had specifically directed the trial court to conclude the proceedings in this matter within a period of three months. Following these directions, the trial was successfully completed and the petitioner was honourably acquitted of all charges.
The apex court stated that this case serves as a textbook example of how investigations must never be conducted, as such flawed probes ultimately jeopardize an individual's right to life and personal liberty at the hands of the prosecution. The bench observed that the petitioner had been incarcerated continuously since November 14, 2019, and termed it deeply unfortunate that he remained behind bars for six years despite the complete absence of credible evidence against him.
Concluding the proceedings, the bench expressed deep anguish over the manner in which the shoddy investigation and subsequent trial were handled. While disposing of the petition, the court mandated the state government to disburse the amount of six lakh rupees to the petitioner within one month, though it acknowledged that this monetary relief falls heavily short compared to the precious years spent in wrongful confinement.
