1. Case Identification

• Case No.: Criminal Appeal No. 502/2013

• Diary No.: 6788/2011

• Court: Supreme Court of India (Court No. 3, Section II-C)

• Bench: Hon'ble Mr. Justice Prashant Kumar Mishra & Hon'ble Mr. Justice Manmohan

• Nature: Criminal appeal against conviction/order

2. Key Proceedings (11-Jun-2025 Hearing)

Representation:

• For Appellant (Murugan):
  AOR Mr. Dipak Kumar Jena + 6 Advocates

• For Respondent (State):
  Senior Advocate Mr. Joseph Aristotle + AOR Mr. Sabarish Subramanian

Court's Order:

1. Translation Direction:
   State granted 8 weeks to file translated depositions of remaining witnesses

2. Adjournment:
   Matter listed after 8 weeks (~06-Aug-2025)

3. Judgment Research Format

A. Case Citation

Murugan @ Thakkadi Murugan vs. State, Criminal Appeal No. 502/2013 (Supreme Court of India, Order dated 11-Jun-2025).

B. Critical Observations

1. Case Background:
   12+ year pendency suggests serious offence (likely murder/rape)
   Multilingual proceedings (witness depositions require translation)

2. Legal Teams:
   Unusual for State to engage Senior Counsel in criminal appeals

3. Procedural Focus:
   Accuracy of translated evidence crucial for fair hearing

C. Legal Significance

• Language Barrier: Highlights challenges in pan-India criminal justice delivery

• Right to Fair Trial: Ensures appellant can access all evidence in understandable language

D. Next Steps

• State to submit translations by ~06-Aug-2025

• Potential issues:
  Accuracy of translations
  Impact on merits of appeal

4. Comparative Analysis

AspectThis CaseTypical Criminal AppealPendency12 years5-7 yearsTranslation NeedsCriticalRareState RepresentationSenior CounselUsually PP/APP

5. Conclusion

The order prioritizes procedural fairness in multilingual litigation. The August 2025 hearing may prove decisive given the case's longevity.