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2w ago

Supreme Court Vacates Death Row Sentences, Enforces Nationwide DNA Protocols

Highlighting DNA mishandling, the court called on Parliament to enact compensation laws for the wrongfully imprisoned.

The court set aside the conviction of Kattavellai, finding that the prosecution’s case, which was anchored almost entirely on DNA evidence, was marred by serious procedural deficiencies. (ANI PHOTO)
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Overview

  • The Supreme Court’s judgments addressed two separate death sentences: a Tamil Nadu rape and murder case from 2011 and a 2013 family killing in Punjab.
  • A bench of Justices Vikram Nath, Sanjay Karol and Sandeep Mehta found serious investigative flaws and unprofessional DNA handling that eroded the prosecutions’ reliability.
  • The court ordered that all DNA samples be packaged and labeled with case details, signed by medical professionals, investigating officers and any available independent witnesses, and transported to labs within 48 hours.
  • Investigating officers must maintain documented chain-of-custody registers for biological evidence, logging every movement and noting reasons for any delay or opening of sealed packages.
  • Invoking Article 21 protections, the court urged Parliament to establish statutory compensation for individuals acquitted after extended incarceration and tasked police leadership with standardizing and training on the new protocols.