30/11/2025
⚖️ LEGAL MAXIM OF THE DAY
“𝕴𝖓 𝖉𝖚𝖇𝖎𝖔 𝖕𝖗𝖔 𝖗𝖊𝖔.”
Meaning: When in doubt, rule in favor of the accused. ⚖️
This legal maxim reflects a core principle of criminal law: no one should be convicted unless guilt is proven beyond reasonable doubt. If uncertainty remains, the law commands that the doubt must be resolved in favor of the accused. This protects the presumption of innocence and ensures that no person is punished based on speculation or insufficient evidence.
As held by the Supreme Court in the case of 𝙋𝙚𝙤𝙥𝙡𝙚 𝙤𝙛 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙋𝙝𝙞𝙡𝙞𝙥𝙥𝙞𝙣𝙚𝙨 𝙫. 𝙇𝙪𝙯𝙫𝙞𝙢𝙞𝙣𝙙𝙖 𝙑𝙖𝙡𝙙𝙚𝙯, 𝙂.𝙍. 𝙉𝙤𝙨. 216007-09. Intimately related to the in dubio pro reo principle is the rule of lenity. The rule applies when the court is faced with two possible interpretations of a penal statute, one that is prejudicial to the accused and another that is favorable to him. The rule calls for the adoption of an interpretation which is more lenient to the accused.
The time-honored principle is that penal statutes are construed strictly against the State and liberally in favor of the accused. When there is doubt on the interpretation of criminal laws, all must be resolved in favor of the accused. Since penal laws should not be applied mechanically, the Court must determine whether their application is consistent with the purpose and reason of the law.
