Madhya Pradesh High Court rules media statements cannot be treated as dying declarations

The bench of the Madhya Pradesh High Court clarified that a statement recorded by the media, even if made when a person is gravely ill, does not automatically qualify as a dying declaration under the Indian Evidence Act. The court emphasized that for a statement to be accepted as a dying declaration, it must be made voluntarily, with the declarant fully aware of impending death, and must be reliable. In the present petition, the court examined whether the media statement met these criteria and concluded it fell short. Consequently, the High Court directed that such statements require corroboration before they can be used as substantive evidence in criminal proceedings. The decision underscores the judiciary's insistence on strict adherence to evidentiary standards when assessing statements made at the end of life.