Supreme Court Directs Courts Not to Dismiss Child Witness Statements Automatically

The Supreme Court held that the testimony of a child witness must not be rejected merely due to an initial suspicion or allegation of tutoring by guardians or authorities. Judicial evaluation requires assessing whether the minor possesses sufficient intellectual capacity to understand questions and provide rational answers, rather than dismissing the evidence outright. Evidentiary rules recognize that young witnesses can offer truthful and vital accounts if their statements display spontaneity, consistency, and freedom from major contradictions.

The old practice sometimes saw reflexive rejections of minor testimonies, whereas the modern legal standard demands a careful judicial scrutiny of the witness's actual demeanor and credibility. Legal professionals handling criminal and civil trials must carefully prepare child witnesses to testify clearly while ensuring no improper coaching occurs that could undermine credibility. Counsel should focus on establishing the minor's competence and observational capacity during examination-in-chief.

Bottom line: Child testimonies require thorough credibility assessments rather than automatic rejection for alleged tutoring.