Dying Declaration Need Not Be Addressed to Any Specific Person, Conviction for Brother’s Murder Upheld: Orissa High Court

In a significant ruling under Section 32(1) of the Indian Evidence Act, the Orissa High Court held that a dying declaration does not necessarily have to be addressed to a particular person to be admissible. Even cries of agony by the victim, disclosing the assailant’s identity, can be treated as valid dying declarations, if the Court is convinced about the voluntariness and truthfulness of the statement. Murder of a father…