Basavaraj R. Patil And Others vs State Of Karnataka And Others

The Supreme Court addressed the issue of whether an accused must personally be questioned under Section 313 of the Code of Criminal Procedure, holding that while the practice established in Usha K. Pillai vs. Raj K. Srinivas (1993) mandates personal questioning, it may allow for exceptions in exigent circumstances. The Court referred the matter to a larger bench for reconsideration of the legal position, emphasizing the need for flexibility in procedural requirements. The appeal was filed by the accused after the High Court set aside their acquittal, necessitating a fresh examination under Section 313.