In Brief
Sukhpal Singh Khaira's criminal appeals raised questions about witness recall under Section 311 and summoning new accused under Section 319 of CrPC in proceedings involving narcotic drugs, arms, and IT offences. The Supreme Court observed that Section 319 requires trial courts to be cautious to ensure fair trials. The Court noted differences between the framing of reference questions and the Constitution Bench's final order had substantive implications. Emphasizing timely justice, the Court remanded the matter to the Chief Justice for constitution of a Bench of appropriate strength to properly address the complex legal questions involved.
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