Tagged “evidence-act”

6 articles on evidence-act.

Hanumant v. State of Madhya Pradesh: the foundational test for circumstantial evidence

In September 1952 the young Supreme Court laid down the foundational rule that circumstantial evidence must form a chain excluding every hypothesis but guilt.

Valkya Editorial·1 Jun 2026·7 min

Landmark JudgmentSupreme Court of India

Khushal Rao v. State of Bombay: a dying declaration as the sole basis of conviction

In 1957 a three-judge bench held that no rule requires a dying declaration to be corroborated; a true, voluntary declaration can by itself sustain a conviction.

Valkya Editorial·1 Jun 2026·8 min

Landmark JudgmentSupreme Court of India

Laxman v. State of Maharashtra: a dying declaration needs no magistrate and no doctor's certificate

In August 2002 a Constitution Bench held that a doctor's fitness certificate is a rule of caution, not a precondition, for a valid dying declaration.

Valkya Editorial·1 Jun 2026·7 min

Landmark JudgmentSupreme Court of India

Padala Veera Reddy v. State of Andhra Pradesh: the four tests of circumstantial evidence

In October 1989 the Supreme Court gave its compact four-test restatement of the circumstantial-evidence standard, the working companion to the Sharad Sarda panchsheel.

Valkya Editorial·1 Jun 2026·8 min

Landmark JudgmentSupreme Court of India

Sharad Birdhichand Sarda v. State of Maharashtra: the panchsheel of circumstantial evidence

In July 1984 a three-judge bench crystallised the five golden principles, the panchsheel, governing convictions resting wholly on circumstantial evidence.

Valkya Editorial·1 Jun 2026·8 min

Landmark JudgmentSupreme Court of India

Shivaji Sahabrao Bobade v. State of Maharashtra: "may be" guilty is not "must be" guilty

In August 1973 Krishna Iyer, J. held that an accused must be guilty, not merely may be, while cautioning courts against acquittal on fanciful doubts.

Valkya Editorial·1 Jun 2026·7 min