RANGAIAH vs STATE OF KARNATAKA

The Supreme Court overturned the Karnataka High Court's conviction of the appellant under Section 302 IPC for murder, emphasizing the necessity of a reliable dying declaration as per legal standards. The Court found that the dying declaration was not recorded in the presence of a judicial officer and lacked medical certification of the deceased's fitness to make such a statement, thus rendering it inadmissible. Consequently, the Court acquitted the appellant, reinstating the earlier judgment of acquittal by the Sessions Court.