Blind Accused Must Receive Witness Testimony in Braille

The Uttarakhand High Court has restored a blind accused’s opportunity to cross-examine a prosecution witness and directed the trial court to supply witness testimony in Braille. Justice Alok Mahra set aside the 9 September order that closed cross-examination in Suchit Narang’s retrial. The court said accessible evidence was not a procedural formality but an essential part of meaningful participation and a fair defence. An earlier appellate ruling had overturned Narang’s conviction and required compliance with Section 12 of the Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act, 2016 during retrial. The trial court must now provide PW-1’s examination-in-chief in Braille and make later prosecution evidence available in an accessible form. The High Court expressed no view on the prosecution’s merits. The revision was allowed on 6 October 2026.