Can the accused shopkeeper challenge the Punjab and Haryana High Court appeal against his acquittal on the basis of a missing weapon and lack of ballistic evidence?

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Suppose a night‑time altercation erupts in a small township where a local shopkeeper, who is also a member of a community committee, allegedly fires a pistol at a rival shop owner during a dispute over a market stall, resulting in the rival’s death; the incident is recorded in an FIR that lists the shopkeeper as the accused and the rival’s spouse as the complainant.

The investigating agency conducts a preliminary inquiry, collecting statements from several by‑standers who claim to have heard a single gunshot and seen the accused rush away from the scene with a firearm in hand. The victim’s spouse, who is in a state of shock, provides a dying declaration identifying the accused as the shooter, though the declaration stops short of describing the weapon or the exact sequence of events. A piece of cloth bearing a faint smell of gun‑powder is recovered near the spot where the body is found, but the firearm itself is never produced, and no ballistic expert is called to examine the alleged weapon.

When the case reaches the Sessions Court, the prosecution leans heavily on the eyewitness testimonies, the dying declaration, and the gun‑powder‑scented cloth to argue that the circumstantial evidence points inexorably to the accused’s guilt. The defence, however, emphasizes the absence of the weapon, the lack of forensic ballistic analysis, and the incomplete nature of the dying declaration, contending that these gaps create a reasonable doubt that should favor acquittal. After weighing the evidence, the trial judge concludes that the prosecution has failed to meet the burden of proof beyond reasonable doubt and acquits the accused, citing the missing forensic link as a fatal deficiency.

This acquittal triggers a procedural dilemma: while the factual defence of “insufficient evidence” is articulated at trial, the prosecution retains a statutory right to challenge the decision. Under the Criminal Procedure Code, an order of acquittal in a case involving a cognizable offence such as murder is appealable by the State. The ordinary factual defence presented at trial does not extinguish the appellate avenue available to the State, and the accused’s liberty remains at stake pending a higher‑court review of the evidentiary assessment.

Consequently, the State files an appeal against the acquittal before the Punjab and Haryana High Court, invoking the provision that permits an appeal to a higher court when a trial court acquits an accused of a serious offence. The appeal seeks a reversal of the acquittal on the ground that the totality of the circumstantial evidence, corroborated by the dying declaration and the gun‑powder‑scented cloth, satisfies the legal test for conviction, even in the absence of ballistic testimony. The filing of this appeal is the appropriate procedural remedy because the High Court possesses the jurisdiction to re‑examine the evidentiary matrix and to determine whether the trial court erred in its appreciation of the material facts.

In preparing the appeal, the State engages a lawyer in Punjab and Haryana High Court who meticulously drafts the petition, highlighting the corroborative effect of the eyewitness accounts, the reliability of the dying declaration under established jurisprudence, and the relevance of the physical cloth as a tangible link to the discharge of a firearm. The counsel argues that the Supreme Court’s earlier pronouncements on dying declarations and circumstantial evidence are directly applicable, and that the trial court’s reliance on the absence of a ballistic expert is misplaced where the remaining evidence collectively points to the accused’s guilt.

Parallel to the State’s appeal, the accused retains the right to contest the High Court’s jurisdiction and to file a counter‑petition seeking a stay of the proceedings. In doing so, the accused retains the services of a lawyer in Chandigarh High Court, who emphasizes that the trial court’s discretion to acquit should be respected absent a clear error of law, and that the High Court must not substitute its own assessment for that of the trial judge without compelling justification.

The procedural posture of the case thus crystallizes: the core legal problem is whether the High Court should overturn an acquittal that was predicated on a perceived evidentiary lacuna, or whether the circumstantial and testimonial evidence, when viewed holistically, suffices to sustain a conviction. The answer hinges on established principles governing the admissibility of dying declarations, the weight of corroborative circumstantial evidence, and the permissible scope of appellate review under the Criminal Procedure Code.

Given the nature of the dispute, the remedy lies squarely before the Punjab and Haryana High Court in the form of an appeal against acquittal. This route is mandated by law, ensures that the State’s grievance is heard by a competent appellate forum, and provides the accused an opportunity to defend against a higher‑court scrutiny of the evidentiary record. The appeal, therefore, is the natural and legally prescribed proceeding that follows from the factual matrix and the procedural rights of the parties.

Throughout the litigation, both parties rely on seasoned practitioners; lawyers in Punjab and Haryana High Court and lawyers in Chandigarh High Court collaborate on procedural nuances, while the appellate bench evaluates the interplay of eyewitness testimony, the dying declaration, and the physical evidence. The outcome will ultimately rest on whether the High Court finds that the cumulative evidence meets the stringent threshold required for a conviction, thereby affirming the principle that an acquittal may be set aside when the totality of reliable material points inexorably to the accused’s guilt.

Question: What legal standards govern the appellate court’s power to set aside an acquittal in a murder case, and how do those standards relate to the factual matrix involving the shopkeeper accused of firing a pistol?

Answer: The appellate court’s authority to overturn an acquittal rests on a two‑fold test: first, whether the trial court committed a material error of law in its appreciation of the evidence, and second, whether the evidence on record, when viewed holistically, meets the threshold of proof beyond reasonable doubt. In the present case, the Sessions Judge acquitted the shopkeeper on the ground that the absence of the firearm and ballistic expert testimony created a doubt that could not be dispelled. A lawyer in Punjab and Haryana High Court will argue that the appellate court is not a second trial but a reviewer of legal correctness; therefore, it must not substitute its own assessment of credibility for that of the trial judge unless the lower court’s reasoning is demonstrably flawed. The factual matrix includes eyewitnesses who heard a single shot, observed the accused fleeing with a gun, and a cloth bearing a faint gun‑powder odor recovered near the body. The complainant’s dying declaration, though incomplete, identifies the accused as the shooter. The appellate court must determine whether these pieces, taken together, form a chain of circumstances that “inevitably point” to the accused’s guilt, a principle derived from established jurisprudence on circumstantial evidence. If the appellate bench finds that the trial judge erred by over‑emphasizing the lack of forensic proof while undervaluing corroborative testimony, it may deem the acquittal unsustainable. Conversely, if the court concludes that the evidentiary gaps remain fatal, the acquittal stands. The practical implication for the accused is that a reversal would reinstate custodial liability and possibly lead to sentencing, whereas the State seeks vindication of its prosecution. The procedural consequence is that the High Court will issue a detailed judgment either affirming the trial court’s discretion or directing a conviction, thereby shaping the final resolution of the criminal liability.

Question: How does the admissibility and reliability of a dying declaration, particularly one that is incomplete, affect the appellate scrutiny of the murder charge against the shopkeeper?

Answer: A dying declaration carries a unique evidentiary status because it is made when the declarant is presumed to be free from external influence, and the law treats it as a substantive piece of proof. However, its admissibility hinges on the clarity of the portion relating to the accused and the presence of corroboration. In this case, the victim’s spouse, in a state of shock, identified the shopkeeper as the shooter but did not describe the weapon or the precise sequence of events. Lawyers in Chandigarh High Court will emphasize that the incompleteness does not automatically render the declaration inadmissible; rather, the court must assess whether the identified portion is clear, unequivocal, and supported by independent evidence. The appellate review will focus on whether the trial court correctly evaluated the declaration’s reliability. The presence of multiple eyewitnesses who heard a single shot and saw the accused with a firearm, along with the gun‑powder‑scented cloth, provides the necessary corroboration. The appellate bench will examine if the trial judge gave due weight to this corroboration or dismissed the declaration because of its partial nature. If the appellate court determines that the declaration, when read in conjunction with the corroborative facts, satisfies the reliability requirement, it may conclude that the trial court’s dismissal was erroneous. Conversely, if the court finds that the declaration lacks sufficient specificity and the supporting evidence is weak, it may uphold the acquittal. The practical implication for the complainant is that a robust affirmation of the dying declaration strengthens the State’s case, potentially leading to conviction. For the accused, a finding that the declaration is unreliable could cement the acquittal. Procedurally, the appellate decision on this point will shape the overall assessment of the evidentiary matrix and influence whether the High Court intervenes.

Question: In the absence of forensic ballistic analysis, can the combination of eyewitness testimony and a gun‑powder‑scented cloth satisfy the burden of proof required for a murder conviction?

Answer: The law recognizes that forensic evidence, while valuable, is not indispensable when the totality of other evidence creates a compelling narrative of guilt. In the present scenario, several by‑standers reported hearing a single gunshot and seeing the shopkeeper flee the scene clutching a firearm. The cloth recovered near the body, bearing a faint smell of gun‑powder, serves as a tangible link to the discharge of a weapon. A lawyer in Punjab and Haryana High Court will argue that these facts, taken together, meet the stringent test for circumstantial evidence: they are consistent, form a logical sequence, and exclude any reasonable hypothesis of innocence. The appellate court must evaluate whether the trial judge erred by insisting on ballistic expert testimony as a prerequisite for conviction. Established jurisprudence holds that when eyewitness accounts are reliable, and physical evidence corroborates the occurrence of a firearm discharge, the lack of a ballistic report does not create a fatal gap. The court will assess the credibility of the witnesses, the circumstances of their observations, and the forensic significance of the gun‑powder‑scented cloth. If the appellate bench finds that these elements collectively point inexorably to the accused’s involvement, it may deem the prosecution’s case sufficient for conviction. Conversely, if the court believes that the absence of the weapon and expert analysis leaves a reasonable doubt about the identity of the shooter, it may uphold the acquittal. The practical implication for the State is that a favorable appellate ruling validates the reliance on circumstantial evidence, potentially leading to a conviction and sentencing. For the accused, the outcome determines whether custodial consequences will be reinstated. Procedurally, the High Court’s decision on this evidentiary issue will set a precedent for future cases where forensic gaps exist.

Question: What procedural avenues are available to the accused to contest the High Court’s jurisdiction or the merits of the State’s appeal, and what are the likely consequences of pursuing such remedies?

Answer: The accused can challenge the High Court’s jurisdiction by filing a petition for a stay of proceedings or a revision on the ground that the appellate court is exceeding its statutory mandate, especially if the appeal is premised on a factual defence already decided at trial. Additionally, the accused may file a counter‑petition seeking dismissal of the appeal on the basis that the trial court’s discretion to acquit should be respected absent a clear legal error. Lawyers in Chandigarh High Court will advise that a stay application must demonstrate that the appeal is frivolous or that the accused’s liberty would be unduly jeopardized pending a full hearing. The court may grant a temporary stay, preserving the status quo, but will likely lift it if it finds that the State’s appeal raises substantial legal questions. Another avenue is to raise a preliminary objection that the evidence on record does not warrant appellate interference, invoking the principle that appellate courts cannot re‑weigh evidence but only examine legal correctness. If the High Court dismisses the appeal, the acquittal becomes final, and the accused regains full freedom. Conversely, if the court proceeds and ultimately overturns the acquittal, the accused may face re‑arrest, trial, and possible conviction, leading to incarceration. The practical implication of pursuing these remedies includes the consumption of time and resources, potential extension of pre‑trial detention, and the psychological impact of prolonged uncertainty. Procedurally, a successful jurisdictional challenge could terminate the State’s appeal, whereas an unsuccessful challenge may expose the accused to the risk of reversal and sentencing. The strategic choice hinges on the strength of the legal arguments and the likelihood of the High Court finding a material error in the trial court’s decision.

Question: How does the involvement of counsel, specifically a lawyer in Punjab and Haryana High Court and lawyers in Chandigarh High Court, shape the litigation strategy for both the State’s appeal and the accused’s counter‑petition?

Answer: Skilled advocacy is pivotal in framing the legal issues, presenting the evidentiary narrative, and influencing judicial perception. For the State, a lawyer in Punjab and Haryana High Court will craft a petition that emphasizes the corroborative strength of eyewitness testimony, the reliability of the dying declaration, and the physical significance of the gun‑powder‑scented cloth, arguing that the trial court’s reliance on the absence of ballistic evidence constitutes a misapprehension of the law on circumstantial proof. This counsel will also anticipate the accused’s jurisdictional challenges and pre‑emptively address them by highlighting statutory authority for appellate review of acquittals in serious offences. Conversely, lawyers in Chandigarh High Court representing the accused will focus on exposing any procedural irregularities, questioning the credibility of witnesses, and underscoring the incomplete nature of the dying declaration. They will argue that the trial court exercised its discretionary power correctly and that the High Court should not substitute its own factual assessment for that of the trial judge. Both sides will use precedent to buttress their positions, with the State citing cases where courts upheld convictions on similar evidentiary configurations, and the defence citing decisions that emphasized the necessity of a complete forensic trail. The involvement of experienced counsel also affects procedural tactics such as filing for interim relief, timing of submissions, and the framing of legal questions for the bench. Practically, the effectiveness of the arguments presented by these lawyers can determine whether the High Court overturns the acquittal or affirms it, thereby directly impacting the liberty of the accused and the State’s pursuit of justice. The strategic interplay of advocacy thus shapes the ultimate resolution of the criminal liability at the appellate stage.

Question: Why does the appeal against the trial court’s acquittal fall within the jurisdiction of the Punjab and Haryana High Court rather than any other forum?

Answer: The factual matrix shows that the accused was tried for a serious offence that carries a penalty of death or life imprisonment. Under the governing criminal procedural law an order of acquittal in such a case is appealable to the highest court of the state. The Punjab and Haryana High Court is the constitutional court that exercises appellate jurisdiction over all sessions courts situated in the two states. Because the trial was conducted by a sessions judge in a district that lies within the territorial limits of the Punjab and Haryana High Court, the appellate remedy must be pursued before that court. The jurisdiction is not a matter of choice but a legal requirement that ensures uniformity of law and prevents forum shopping. Moreover the High Court has the power to re‑examine the entire evidential record, to assess whether the trial judge erred in law or in the appreciation of material facts, and to either confirm the acquittal or set it aside. The procedural route therefore follows directly from the statutory scheme that channels appeals from sessions courts to the state high court. In practice the State will engage a lawyer in Punjab and Haryana High Court who is familiar with the specific rules of pleading, the format of the appeal memorandum and the timelines for filing. This counsel will ensure that the petition complies with the high court’s procedural rules, that the necessary annexures such as the FIR, trial judgment and witness statements are properly indexed, and that service on the accused is effected in accordance with law. Failure to file before the correct high court would result in dismissal for lack of jurisdiction, thereby defeating the State’s substantive grievance and leaving the accused in a state of legal uncertainty.

Question: What are the procedural steps that the State must observe when filing the appeal and how does the involvement of a lawyer in Punjab and Haryana High Court facilitate compliance with those steps?

Answer: The first step is the preparation of a memorandum of appeal that sets out the grounds on which the trial court’s decision is challenged. The memorandum must identify the judgment being appealed, summarize the material facts, and articulate why the trial judge’s assessment of the evidence was erroneous. Next the State must file the memorandum along with the required court fee and a certified copy of the trial judgment. After filing, the State is required to serve a copy of the appeal on the accused or his counsel within the period prescribed by the high court’s rules. The appeal then enters the docket and the high court may issue a notice to the accused, inviting a response. Throughout this process the counsel must ensure that the annexures are correctly paginated, that the FIR, the dying declaration, the eyewitness statements and the forensic report on the gun‑powder scented cloth are attached, and that any objections to the trial court’s findings are supported by case law. A lawyer in Punjab and Haryana High Court brings expertise in drafting precise legal arguments, in navigating the high court’s procedural calendar, and in anticipating procedural objections that the accused may raise. The counsel also coordinates with the investigating agency to obtain any additional material that may strengthen the appeal, such as a fresh forensic opinion if available. By adhering to the procedural checklist, the State avoids technical dismissals that could arise from non‑compliance, thereby preserving the substantive right to have the acquittal reviewed on its merits. The involvement of an experienced high court practitioner also facilitates strategic decisions such as whether to seek a stay of execution of any pending orders, or to request that the high court entertain a revision petition concurrently.

Question: Why might the accused seek the assistance of a lawyer in Chandigarh High Court to contest the high court’s jurisdiction or to obtain a stay, and why is a factual defence alone insufficient at this appellate stage?

Answer: At the appellate stage the accused is no longer arguing the facts of the case in the same manner as at trial. The high court’s function is to examine whether the law was applied correctly and whether the trial court’s findings were perverse. Consequently a defence that relies solely on the absence of the weapon or on the lack of ballistic analysis, while persuasive at trial, does not automatically preclude the high court from re‑evaluating the evidential matrix. The accused therefore turns to a lawyer in Chandigarh High Court who can file a petition challenging the high court’s jurisdiction on the ground that the appeal is premature or that the proper forum is a different bench. The counsel may also move for a stay of the appeal proceedings to preserve the accused’s liberty while the jurisdictional issue is resolved. By focusing on procedural safeguards rather than on the factual narrative, the accused aims to halt the high court’s substantive review. Moreover the lawyer can argue that the trial court exercised its discretion in acquitting the accused and that the high court should not substitute its own assessment for that of the trial judge absent a clear error of law. This line of argument is essential because the high court will not re‑weigh the evidence unless it finds a legal flaw. The involvement of a lawyer in Chandigarh High Court ensures that the petition is framed in accordance with the high court’s rules on jurisdictional challenges, that the appropriate relief such as a stay or a direction to return the matter to the trial court is sought, and that any procedural objections are raised promptly. Without such procedural focus the accused’s case would be reduced to a reiteration of factual disputes that the appellate court is not empowered to re‑try.

Question: How does the combination of circumstantial evidence and the dying declaration influence the high court’s authority to set aside the acquittal, and what writ relief can be pursued through the appropriate legal channels?

Answer: The evidential record contains several independent eyewitnesses who heard a single shot, saw the accused flee with a firearm, and a dying declaration that identifies the accused as the shooter. In addition a cloth fragment smelling of gun‑powder was recovered near the body, providing a physical link to the discharge of a weapon. When these pieces are viewed holistically they satisfy the legal test that the circumstances inevitably point to the accused’s participation and that no reasonable hypothesis of innocence remains. The high court, empowered to examine the totality of evidence, may therefore conclude that the trial court erred in giving excessive weight to the absence of ballistic expert testimony. The high court can set aside the acquittal on the ground that the material facts, taken together, establish guilt beyond reasonable doubt. To obtain such a reversal the State may file a writ of certiorari challenging the legality of the trial court’s order, or a writ of mandamus directing the trial court to reconsider the evidence in light of the established legal principles. A lawyer in Punjab and Haryana High Court will draft the writ petition, cite precedents where courts have upheld convictions on the basis of corroborative circumstantial evidence, and request that the high court issue an order quashing the acquittal and remanding the matter for judgment. The writ relief provides a mechanism for the higher court to intervene when a lower court’s decision is manifestly erroneous, thereby ensuring that the accused does not escape liability solely because of procedural gaps that do not defeat the overall evidential picture.

Question: How does the absence of the firearm and ballistic expert testimony affect the risk that the Punjab and Haryana High Court may overturn the trial court’s acquittal, and what procedural defects should a lawyer in Punjab and Haryana High Court highlight to protect the accused?

Answer: The factual matrix shows that the prosecution’s case rests on eyewitness accounts, a dying declaration, and a gun‑powder scented cloth, while the weapon itself was never produced and no ballistic analysis was undertaken. In the appellate context, the High Court is empowered to re‑examine the evidentiary record, but it must respect the principle that a conviction requires proof beyond reasonable doubt. A lawyer in Punjab and Haryana High Court will therefore argue that the missing firearm creates a material gap that prevents the prosecution from establishing the essential element of a discharge of a firearm by the accused. The defence can point out that the trial judge correctly applied the doctrine that the absence of a forensic link is fatal where the remaining evidence does not meet the stringent test for circumstantial proof. Procedural defects to emphasise include the failure of the investigating agency to secure the alleged weapon, the omission of a qualified ballistic expert, and the reliance on a dying declaration that is incomplete and not corroborated by forensic science. By foregrounding these lapses, the defence seeks to demonstrate that the High Court’s reversal would amount to a miscarriage of justice and a breach of the accused’s right to a fair trial. Moreover, the counsel can cite precedents where appellate courts have upheld acquittals on similar evidentiary deficiencies, reinforcing the argument that the High Court should not substitute its own assessment for that of the trial court absent a clear error of law. Highlighting these procedural shortcomings not only reduces the risk of an adverse reversal but also positions the accused to request a stay of the appeal pending a detailed evidentiary hearing, thereby preserving liberty while the higher court deliberates.

Question: Which documents and pieces of evidence should the defence preserve and present to a lawyer in Chandigarh High Court to challenge the State’s appeal, and how can forensic gaps be turned into a strategic advantage?

Answer: The defence must assemble the original FIR, the complete statements of all eyewitnesses, the transcript of the dying declaration, the forensic report on the cloth fragment, and the post‑mortem findings that confirm a gun‑shot wound. In addition, the defence should obtain the investigation log showing the failure to recover the firearm and any correspondence indicating that a ballistic expert was never consulted. A lawyer in Chandigarh High Court will scrutinise these documents for inconsistencies, such as variations in the eyewitness narratives about the accused’s appearance or the distance of the shot, and will highlight the lack of a chain of custody for the cloth, which may raise doubts about contamination. The defence can also request the production of the original medical records to verify that the post‑mortem report was not altered. By foregrounding the forensic gaps, the counsel can argue that the prosecution’s case is built on conjecture rather than scientific proof, and that the reliance on a single piece of physical evidence – the cloth – is insufficient to establish the accused’s possession of a weapon at the time of the incident. The strategy involves filing an application for a detailed forensic re‑examination, even if only to demonstrate that the evidence is inconclusive, thereby reinforcing the argument that the High Court should not overturn the acquittal. Moreover, the defence can seek an order for the State to produce the alleged firearm, and if the State fails, the court may deem the prosecution’s case untenable. This evidentiary approach not only undermines the State’s appeal but also creates a procedural lever to request a stay of the proceedings until the forensic deficiencies are fully addressed.

Question: What are the custody and bail considerations for the accused while the appeal is pending before the Punjab and Haryana High Court, and how can a lawyer in Punjab and Haryana High Court mitigate the risk of continued detention?

Answer: After the trial court’s acquittal, the accused was released, but the State’s appeal re‑instates the threat of re‑arrest. The High Court has the authority to order the accused taken into custody pending the determination of the appeal, unless the defence successfully obtains a bail order. A lawyer in Punjab and Haryana High Court will therefore file an urgent bail application, emphasizing that the accused has already been found not guilty by a competent court and that the appeal does not automatically revive the conviction. The counsel will argue that the accused’s liberty is a fundamental right and that continued detention would amount to punitive action without a final judgment. In support, the lawyer will attach the acquittal order, the lack of any fresh material evidence, and the procedural defects identified in the investigation. The defence can also invoke the principle that bail should be the rule and custody the exception, especially where the alleged offence is not a non‑bailable one after an acquittal. To further mitigate risk, the lawyer may request that the High Court stay the appeal pending a hearing on the bail application, thereby preserving the status quo. If the court orders custody, the defence should seek a direction for the accused to be placed under judicial supervision rather than police lock‑up, reducing the harshness of confinement. Additionally, the counsel can argue that the accused’s cooperation with the investigating agency, lack of prior criminal record, and the community standing as a shopkeeper and committee member weigh in favour of bail. By presenting a comprehensive bail petition, the defence aims to keep the accused out of detention while the appellate process unfolds, thereby protecting personal liberty and avoiding the stigma of re‑incarceration.

Question: What strategic steps should lawyers in Chandigarh High Court take to contest the State’s appeal, including possible counter‑petitions, jurisdictional challenges, and the use of precedent, to maximise the chance of upholding the acquittal?

Answer: The defence team must adopt a multi‑pronged strategy before the Chandigarh High Court. First, they should file a counter‑petition seeking a stay of the appeal on the ground that the trial court’s decision is final and that the High Court should not entertain a revision absent a clear error of law. In this filing, the lawyers will argue that the appellate jurisdiction is limited to questions of law and that the factual findings of the trial court, especially the assessment of reasonable doubt, cannot be re‑evaluated merely because the State is dissatisfied. Second, the counsel will raise a jurisdictional objection, contending that the State’s appeal is premature because the accused remains out of custody and no new evidence has emerged, making the appeal an abuse of process. Third, the defence will rely on precedent from higher courts where acquittals were upheld despite the absence of forensic evidence, highlighting the principle that the prosecution bears the burden of proof and that gaps in the evidentiary chain cannot be cured by appellate speculation. The lawyers will cite cases where courts emphasized that a dying declaration, while admissible, must be corroborated, and that the corroboration in the present case is weak. Fourth, the defence will request that the High Court direct the State to produce the alleged firearm, and if it fails, the court may be compelled to dismiss the appeal for lack of essential material. Finally, the counsel will prepare a detailed written argument that the cumulative evidence – eyewitnesses, cloth, and post‑mortem – does not meet the stringent test for circumstantial proof, and that the trial judge’s discretion to acquit should be respected. By combining procedural objections, jurisdictional challenges, and persuasive reliance on precedent, the lawyers in Chandigarh High Court aim to preserve the acquittal and prevent the State from achieving a reversal on speculative grounds.