Court Suggests Amendment to the Indian Evidence Act
The high court has asked the Union and State governments to consider amending the Indian Evidence Act, stating that a judicial officer must be present while recording a dying declaration.
The Bench was hearing a petition challenging a lower court’s ruling in a woman’s murder case, on Wednesday.
Mahadevamma, a native of Chikkabeedi in Kalkale village in Nanjangud taluk, was set ablaze by her husband, brother-in-law and mother-in-law as she was said to be sterile.
The Bench said if there is a variance in the victim’s statements when there is a direct witness to the incident, it becomes tough for the court to decide which of the statements is to be accepted. “Every female born under the sun is a boon to society. It is the woman who suffers in silence for the sake of love and the welfare of her family but she is being killed like cattle,” the Bench comprising Justice K Bhakthavatsala and Justice K N Keshavanarayana observed.
The court convicted the husband and acquitted the other two.
Petition by News Channels Dismissed
Justice S N Satyanarayana dismissed a petition filed by private news channels seeking to quash the FIR filed against two journalists and the CEO of one of the channels.
The journalists had tried to conduct a sting operation against Energy Minister D K Shivakumar.
Sadashivanagar police booked them under Sections 9 and 12 of the Prevention of Corruption Act.
The journalists were arrested on March 7 for allegedly trying to bribe Shivakumar at his residence as part of the sting operation.
They also booked the director of TV9 (Kannada) and News9 (English), who allegedly directed the journalists to conduct the sting on the minister.