Supreme Court of India · 2008-07-30
Ghurey Lal vs State Of U.P
- Court
- Supreme Court of India
- Petitioner
- Ghurey Lal
- Respondent
- State Of U.P
- Author
- Dalveer Bhandari
- Bench
- Dalveer Bhandari, R. V. Raveendran
Judgment text excerpt
The Supreme Court reversed the High Court's decision that had convicted the accused for murder, emphasizing that appellate courts must exercise caution when overturning acquittals. The Court reiterated that an acquittal strengthens the presumption of innocence and that a reversal should only occur with 'very substantial and compelling reasons.' The judgment highlighted the importance of giving due weight to the trial court's assessment of witness credibility, ultimately restoring the trial court's acquittal of the accused under Section 302 IPC.