The Supreme Court of India, while acquitting a man in a 2008 murder case, has issued significant, binding directions to all trial courts to ensure the “fairness and integrity” of evidence recorded via video conferencing (VC).

A Division Bench of Justice Vikram Nath and Justice Sandeep Mehta , hearing the case of Raj Kumar @ Bheema v. State of NCT of Delhi , addressed a “procedural irregularity” that arose when a witness, deposing from abroad, could not be properly cross-examined with her previous written statement.

To prevent such prejudice, the Court has mandated that trial courts “shall ensure” copies of relevant documents, like prior statements, are electronically transmitted to the witness before they are confronted during cross-examination.

The Procedural Issue

The case involv

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