Presumption as to certain offences
Full Text
Where a person is prosecuted for committing or abetting or attempting to commit any offence under sections 3, 5, 7 and section 9 of this Act, the Special Court shall presume, that such person has committed or abetted or attempted to commit the offence, as the case may be unless the contrary is proved.
Plain English Summary
Establishes a mandatory legal presumption that an accused prosecuted under Section 3, 5, 7, or 9 has committed, abetted, or attempted the offence, shifting the legal burden to the defence to prove the contrary.
Key Legal Elements
- Applies to prosecutions under Sections 3, 5, 7, and 9 (commission, abetment, or attempt)
- Mandatory statutory presumption of commission by Special Court
- Legal burden shifted to accused to prove the contrary
- Requires prosecution to establish foundational facts before trigger
Practical Note
Section 29 enacts a severe reverse burden of proof. However, constitutional courts (e.g. Delhi HC in Dharmander Singh, Bombay HC) hold that the presumption does not trigger automatically upon mere filing of a chargesheet; the prosecution must first establish the "foundational facts" beyond reasonable doubt before the presumption shifts to the accused.
हिंदी पाठ
जहां किसी व्यक्ति पर इस अधिनियम की धारा 3, धारा 5, धारा 7 और धारा 9 के अधीन कोई अपराध करने या उसका दुष्प्रेरण करने अथवा उसका प्रयत्न करने के लिए अभियोजन चलाया जाता है, वहां विशेष न्यायालय यह उपधारणा करेगा कि ऐसे व्यक्ति ने, यथास्थिति, वह अपराध किया है या उसका दुष्प्रेरण किया है अथवा प्रयत्न किया है, जब तक कि इसके विपरीत साबित न कर दिया जाए।