In Brief
The Supreme Court allowed criminal appeals where the High Court had acquitted accused persons under Section 302 read with Section 34 IPC. However, the Court set aside the High Court's judgment on procedural grounds: the High Court had announced its operative order (acquitting the accused) on 30 March 2019 without a reasoned judgment, then delivered the written reasons approximately five months later. The Court held such delayed delivery of reasons is unsustainable and discourages this practice. The matter was remanded to the High Court for fresh consideration within six months, without the Supreme Court expressing any opinion on merits. During pendency, the accused remain released on bail.
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