India, April 28 -- Citing a "perfunctory and mechanical" trial marred by procedural lapses, the Orissa high court has overturned the death sentence of a man convicted in 2023 for the rape and murder of a five-year-old girl in Odisha's Sundargarh district.

The court, emphasising that the right to a fair trial is not merely the accused's privilege but a societal imperative, has ordered a fresh trial within six months, directing the trial court to uphold fairness and due process.

A division bench of Justices BP Routray and Chittaranjan Dash, while setting aside the conviction, pulled up the trial court for failing to ensure effective legal representation for the convict Sanjeeb Kerketta and for neglecting critical procedural safeguards.

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