Division Bench of Hon’ble Supreme Court comprising of Judges S. A. Bobde, J., L. Nageswara Rao, J. observed on the issue of need for reform and uniformity in criminal justice system as “In the circumstances, we direct that notices be  issued  to  the Registrars General of all the High Courts, and the Chief Secretaries/ the Administrators and the Advocates-General/Senior Standing Counsel of all  the States/Union Territories, so that general consensus can  be  arrived  at on the need to amend the relevant Rules of Practice/ Criminal Manuals to bring about uniform best  practices across the country. This Court may also consider issuance of directions under Article 142 of the Constitution. They can be given the option to give suggestions also on other areas of concern.”

Division Bench of Hon’ble SC referred to: “Kerala Criminal Rules of Practice 1982

 “Rule 62 – Marking of exhibits:

(1)  Exhibits admitted in evidence shall be marked as follows:

(2)  …

(3)  ….

(4)  …..

(5)  ….

(6)  ….

(7)  …..

(8)  …

(9)  The healthy practice in some states of the Investigating Officer obtaining and producing (or the wound certificate/ post mortem certificate showing) the front and rear sketch of the human torso showing the injuries listed in the medical documents specifically, may be uniformly insisted. This would help the judges to have a clearer and surer understanding of the sites of the injuries.”

Reference: S. A. Bobde, J., L. Nageswara Rao, J. IN RE: TO ISSUE CERTAIN GUIDELINES REGARDING INADEQUACIES AND DEFICIENCIES IN CRIMINAL TRIALS. SUO MOTU WRIT (CRL.) NO.1 OF 2017, Date of Judgment: 30.03.2017. SC. Accessed from:URL:http://judis.nic.in/supremecourt/imgst.aspx?filename=44699