Name of the Case: Kattavellai @ Devakar v. State of Tamil Nadu
Citation: Criminal Appeal No. 1672 of 2019
Hon’ble Supreme Court’s Bench: Justice Vikram Nath, Justice Sanjay Karol and Justice Sandeep Mehta
Date: 15.07.2025
In a significant ruling, the Hon’ble Supreme Court acquitted a man who was previously sentenced to death for the brutal double murder of two young individuals. The man was acquitted owing to the Hon’ble Apex Court’s attention towards certain glaring investigative lapses and inconclusive forensic evidence that was ignored by the lower courts. The Hon’ble Apex Court noted that the entire case was built on weak circumstantial evidence and was riddled with inconsistencies and procedural lapses and also criticized the high reliance placed on testimony of a sole, unreliable witness that too, in absence of any clear motive of the accused. The judgment took note of the long period of incarceration undergone by the appellant before being found innocent, thereby highlighting a grave miscarriage of justice.
The Hon’ble Bench further emphasised the urgent need for India to enact a dedicated statute that enables compensation for those wrongfully incarcerated. Drawing parallels with statutes in the United States, the Hon’ble Court noted that existing Indian mechanisms, including the 277th Law Commission Report, fall short in providing tangible relief for such major constitutional violations. While deferring the decision on compensation to Parliament, the Hon’ble Court strongly advocated for legal reform to uphold the right to life and personal liberty under Article 211.
- https://api.sci.gov.in/supremecourt/2019/35590/35590_2019_13_1501_62329_Judgement_15-Jul-2025.pdf
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