No lawyer, No hearing, No appeal; Court should not decide a criminal case against the accused in the absence of his counsel -SC

MD. Sukur Ali Vs State of Assam (Supreme Court of India) – In Maneka Gandhi vs. Union of India AIR 1978 SC 597, it has been held by a Constitution Bench of this Court that the procedure for depriving a person of his life or liberty should be fair, reasonable and just. We are of the opinion that it is not fair or just that a criminal case should be decided against an accused in the absence of a counsel. It is only a lawyer who is conversant with law who can properly defend an accused in a criminal case. Hence, in our opinion, if a criminal case (whether a trial or appeal/ revision) is de...