Sinnathurai Sivachandran alias Prabu vs The Hon. Attorney General – CA HCC/0176/2016-2022

In the case between Sinnathurai Sivachandran alias Prabu (Accused-Appellant) and The Hon. Attorney General, Attorney General’s Department (Complainant-Respondent), the court considered whether two sentences imposed for statutory rape should run concurrently or consecutively and whether the court could reconsider its earlier order post-conclusion of proceedings. It was held that, due to the excusable neglect of defense counsel in failing to request concurrent sentences at the proper stage, the court retained discretion to revisit and direct concurrent operation of sentences, despite procedural finality. This determination reaffirmed the principle that a court may intervene to prevent injustice arising from procedural default, particularly where an accused’s right to effective legal represen