Rajanikanth and Others vs. Attorney General – sllr 2019 volume 1 page 385

In the case between Rajanikanth and Others (Appellants) and the Attorney General (Respondent), the court examined whether failure to comply with mandatory statutory provisions—specifically Sections 150, 151, 152, and 199(3) of the Code of Criminal Procedure—during the preliminary inquiry affected the fairness of the trial and resulted in a failure of justice in a gang rape conviction. The decision established that, despite the procedural irregularities, the substantial rights of the accused were not prejudiced and the trial’s fairness remained intact. The holding reinforced the principle that noncompliance with procedural requirements does not invalidate a conviction unless substantial injustice is shown, relying on statutory interpretation and precedent case law. The outcome confirmed the