Overview
- A bench of Justices Vikram Nath and Sandeep Mehta directed all trial courts to append tabulated lists of witnesses, exhibited documents, and material objects to criminal judgments.
- Each witness chart must carry a serial number, the witness’s name, and a brief role description such as informant, eyewitness, doctor, or investigating officer.
- Separate charts must record exhibit or material-object numbers, concise descriptions, and the witness who proved or attested each item, with the same rules applying to defence evidence.
- In complex or voluminous cases, courts may confine charts to material and relied-upon items, with the constraint expressly stated.
- The guidance was issued while acquitting Manojbhai Jethabhai Parmar in a 2013 Kalol case due to broken custody and handling of evidence, and the Registry was told to circulate the judgment to all High Courts.