Ashok Kumar v. Attorney General – sllr 1998 volume 3 page 332

In the case between Ashok Kumar (accused-appellant) and the Attorney General, the court addressed whether a conviction for abetment in the importation of heroin could stand when the sole evidence against the accused—a statement—was recorded in English contrary to directions to record it in Tamil. It was held that, considering the accused’s lack of English proficiency and discrepancies in the recording process, the evidence was insufficient to sustain a conviction. This determination reinforced the principle that procedural safeguards in recording confessions and statements, especially when language barriers exist, are essential to ensure fairness and reliability. The court relied on the analysis of the recording procedure and underscored the necessity for strict adherence to language direc