SUPREME COURT ORDERS STATES TO PROBE ALL ACQUITTALS

• Far reaching implications for law enforcement and the criminal justice system
• Every criminal case with accused being acquitted will have to be examined by state govts to ascertain whether there were any lapses by police and the prosecution or if accused were deliberately framed
• 6 months time has been given to state govts to put in place a mechanism to examine all acquittal orders and record reasons for failure of prosecution cases. It also suggested a standing committee of seniors officers of police and prosecution departments be vested with aforesaid authority and penal action for erring officers
• Also ordered govts to evolve a concrete procedure so that only those against whom sufficient evidence if available shall undergo rigors of criminal prosecution
• An acquittal means either police or prosecution failed to secure justice for the victims or the accused has been framed