Top court clarifies conditions of life term suspension

The Supreme Court has made it clear that the longsettled principle of "presumption of innocence" applies only until an accused is tried and convicted, and does not survive once a trial court records a finding of guilt.

- Utkarsh Anand

Cautioning appellate courts against virtually retrying cases at the stage of suspending sentence, the top court has held that re-appreciation of evidence or picking holes in the prosecution case is impermissible when a convicted person seeks bail pending appeal.