Tuesday, May 19, 2009

AP High Court : Give free copy of order to accused

By S A Ishaqui

Hyderabad, May 18: The AP High Court declared that even in criminal appeals, the accused are entitled to free copies of judgements.

Justice Gopala Krishna Tamada, while declaring that the practice adopted by the Hyderabad metropolitan sessions judge court was totally contrary to the law, observed that “according to Section 387 of the CrPC read with Rule 72 of the Criminal Rules of Practice, it is clear that even in criminal appeals the accused are entitled to free copies of judgements.”

The judge was dealing with a criminal revision petition filed by one Ajay Vanamali, an accused in a case challenging the dismissal of his criminal appeal by the metropolitan sessions judge.

The sessions judge in his report, told the HC that any person affected by a judgement passed by the criminal court is entitled to a copy only on payment of prescribed charges.

The HC did not agree and asked the court to furnish a copy of the judgement for free.

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