Synopsis

This Supreme Court judgment, delivered by a Division Bench, addresses the scope of appellate interference in an order of acquittal and the evidentiary value of a dying declaration in a case of murder under Section 302 of the Indian Penal Code (IPC). The core legal issue was whether the High Court was justified in overturning the trial court's conviction by discarding a dying declaration recorded by an Executive Magistrate. The Supreme Court, after a meticulous re-appreciation of evidence, held that the High Court's approach was perverse and based on a misreading of evidence. Consequently, it set aside the acquittal and restored the conviction and life sentence imposed by the trial court.

1. Basic Information of the Judgment

Case Title: State of Himachal Pradesh vs. Chaman Lal

Citation: 2026 INSC 57 | Criminal Appeal No. 430 of 2018

Court: Supreme Court of India

Jurisdiction: Criminal Appellate Jurisdiction

Coram: Justice R. Mahadevan (Authored) and Justice B.V. Nagarathna (Division Bench)

Date of Judgment: January 15, 2026

Nature of Judgment: Appeal against Acquittal

Subject Matter: Murder (S. 302 IPC); Reliability of Dying Declaration; Interference with Acquittal.

2. Legal Framework & Context

This judgment operates at the intersection of substantive criminal law and the law of evidence, interpreting the following key provisions and precedents:

A. Primary Legislations:

1. Indian Penal Code, 1860:
   Section 302: Punishment for murder.

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