#evidentiary value

The Gauhati High Court held that an unexamined school admission register cannot establish a victim’s minority and that ossification test results must be interpreted with a two-year margin in favour of the accused. Consequently, the accused was acquitted under Section 6 of the POCSO Act, clarifying the evidentiary burden for age proof in POCSO prosecutions.

Allahabad HC rejects second bail plea in a dowry death case despite witness retraction during cross-examination, emphasizing the severity of allegations and prima facie case. The court held that the informant's initial alignment with the prosecution during examination-in-chief sufficed to deny bail despite subsequent retraction.

Bombay High Court invalidates a 99-year lease agreement for lack of evidence of consideration and failure to obtain requisite permissions under tribal land laws. The ruling reinforces that mutation entries cannot validate a sham transaction, impacting land disputes involving Adivasi properties.

Bombay High Court rules that consistent testimony from a child witness, coupled with medical evidence of life-threatening injuries, can sustain a conviction under Section 307 IPC even without corroboration. The judgment reinforces that corroboration is a matter of prudence, not a legal requirement, impacting criminal trials involving vulnerable witnesses.

Karnataka High Court rules that an illegal arrest under Section 51 BNSS renders subsequent forensic evidence, including blood samples, inadmissible in NDPS prosecutions. The judgment underscores that procedural violations at arrest stage irreparably taint the entire case, mandating quashing of charges even in drug offences.

Bombay High Court rules that school certificates prevail over subsequent claims in date of birth disputes, setting a precedent for service law cases. The judgment reinforces the evidentiary weight of educational records in employment-related identity verification, impacting government and private sector employees alike.

Punjab & Haryana HC reinforces that anticipatory bail under BNSS Section 482 must be granted if no contraband is recovered and charges rely solely on custodial disclosures, which are inadmissible under Bharatiya Sakshya Adhiniyam. The ruling underscores that cooperation with investigation negates the need for arrest, even in NDPS cases.

Chhattisgarh High Court grants bail in cyber fraud case where applicants allegedly facilitated contact between co-accused but had no direct role in fund transfers or possession of incriminating material.

Chhattisgarh High Court holds that uncorroborated memorandum statements and seized devices with no recoverable data cannot form the basis of criminal proceedings under IPC or Gambling Act.

Supreme Court holds that conviction under Section 135 Customs Act cannot rest solely on Section 108 statements; independent corroboration essential for validity.

ITAT Delhi holds that unsigned, unwitnessed agreement to sell recovered during search lacks evidentiary value for adding unaccounted cash income under Section 153C.