Reviewed case brief

Zahira Habibulla Sheikh v. State of Gujarat

(2004) 4 SCC 158

The Best Bakery case establishing that fair trial rights belong to both the accused and the victim/witnesses, and that witness intimidation vitiates the trial.

fair-trialwitness-protectionarticle-21Best-Bakerysem-5
Court
Supreme Court of India
Year
2004
Subjects
Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita
Reviewed
2026-06-29

Rule established

Fair trial under Art. 21 includes protection of witnesses. A trial where witnesses are intimidated into turning hostile is not fair.

Facts

    Issues

      Held

        Ratio decidendi

        How to use it in an exam

        Editorial source

        SCC

        Educational summary only. Read the reported judgment or an authorised law report before relying on the case professionally.