GURCHARAN SINGH vs STATE OF PUNJAB

The Supreme Court upheld the conviction of the appellants for murder despite their acquittal under Section 19(f) of the Arms Act, clarifying that the acquittal did not affect the murder conviction as the judgments were pronounced on the same day without evidence of one preceding the other. The Court ruled that the failure to produce a ballistic expert did not vitiate the trial, as the direct evidence was sufficient to establish the use of the firearm. The Court emphasized that the prosecution is not always required to present ballistic evidence if the oral evidence is credible and corroborative.