The Allahabad High Court has stressed the fundamental importance of accurate, clear and consistent medical injury reports in the adjudication of criminal cases, observing that such documents form a critical part of the evidentiary foundation upon which trial courts rely. The Court stated that medical reports, including injury reports and post-mortem reports, must reflect precise details that align with the version of events presented by the prosecution. When there is a major discrepancy between medical findings and witness testimonies, the prosecution’s case may be significantly weakened because the inconsistency casts doubt on its credibility.
The Court reiterated that although the testimony of an injured witness is generally considered to have strong evidentiary value, such testimony cannot automatically be presumed truthful in every respect. The judicial approach requires that the oral testimony of an injured witness be tested against objective medical evidence to determine whether the injuries described and the manner in which they were allegedly inflicted are medically plausible. If medical findings do not support the narrative of the injured witness, the discrepancy must be scrutinised.
The High Court further highlighted the principle that when the accused persons themselves have injuries, the prosecution is duty-bound to explain how those injuries were sustained. Failure to account for injuries on the accused can introduce doubt regarding the prosecution’s version of events, suggesting either that the altercation occurred differently than claimed or that the accused may have acted in self-defence. The Court described such unexplained injuries as a factor capable of creating a “shadow of doubt,” undermining the overall reliability of the prosecution’s story.
In addition to evidentiary concerns, the Court emphasised the importance of proper preparation and formatting of medical reports. It directed that all post-mortem and injury reports should be prepared in a clear, typed, and legible form rather than handwritten formats that are often difficult to read or decipher. The Court noted that unclear medical documentation hampers the ability of trial courts to correctly interpret injuries, determine their nature and severity, and evaluate whether they correspond with the prosecution’s claims. The Court urged medical authorities to follow proper reporting standards to avoid confusion or misinterpretation.
Through these observations, the Allahabad High Court underscored the interconnected role of medical records and witness testimony in criminal trials. It affirmed that consistency between these components strengthens the fact-finding process, while discrepancies or poor documentation risk obscuring the truth and compromising the administration of justice.
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