Confirming life sentences awarded to the convicts in the 2023 VAO murder case reported in Thoothukudi district, the Madurai Bench of the Madras High Court has issued directions to the State to ensure accuracy in medico-legal records.

A Division Bench of Justices N. Anand Venkatesh and K.K. Ramakrishnan said in the Accident Register under the column ‘Kondu Vandhavar’ (person who brought the injured/deceased to the hospital), doctors merely mentioned ‘108’ (ambulance service) in several criminal cases.

The court said taking advantage of such entries, the counsel appearing for the defence frequently contended that the injured or deceased was brought only by the 108 Ambulance Service. Therefore, the presence of the prosecution witnesses at that time became doubtful, thereby casting an unwarranted suspicion on their credibility.

It was the duty of the medical officer, going by the medical ethics and proper medico-legal practice, to correctly record in the column the name and particulars of the person who actually accompanied or brought the injured or the deceased to the hospital.“Such ambiguous entries have repeatedly resulted in avoidable controversies during trial and have, on occasions, created unnecessary doubts regarding the credibility of eyewitnesses and other material witnesses,” the court said.

The court directed the Health Secretary and the Director of Medical Education and Research to circulate suitable instructions to all government medical officers and hospitals dealing with medico-legal cases in ythis regard.

The court was hearing the criminal appeal filed by Ramasubramanian alias Ramasubbu and Marimuthu. In 2023, the Principal Sessions Court in Thoothukudi sentenced the appellants to life imprisonment for the murder of VAO Y. Lourdhu Francis.

Upholding the trial court verdict, the judges said documentary evidence demonstrated that the VAO had been taking action to prevent illegal sand mining. Prior to the occurrence, he had intercepted the accused on two occasions when they were illegally transporting sand, lodged complaints against them. The prosecution had established a strong motive for the offence, the court said.

It appreciated the prompt and efficient efforts of the investigating agency, the prosecution, and the trial court judge in ensuring completion of the entire criminal proceedings within five months.

It directed the Chief Secretary to make constructive deliberations with the Director General of Police and the Prosecution Department and, issue a circular prescribing a structured time line to facilitate prompt investigation and expeditious trial in similar cases.

Published - July 29, 2026 10:54 pm IST