The Supreme Court has advised that it would be prudent for the Appellate Courts to notify a convict before appointing an amicus curiae to represent them in their criminal appeal when their counsel is absent.
The Court observed that such an intimation will obviate situations of a convict later complaining that the appeal was decided by hearing an amicus without their knowledge.
The ruling came in a case where the appellant’s appeal remained pending for over two decades after he was released on bail. When the matter was finally listed, no counsel appeared for him and the High Court appointed an amicus curiae, who argued the case and secured partial relief by converting a conviction…