India, March 1 -- Reaffirming the fundamental principle that "bail is the rule, and jail is the exception," the Supreme Court on Friday ruled that an individual acquitted by a trial court must be released on bail when a high court reviews the acquittal order.

A bench of justices Abhay S Oka and Ujjal Bhuyan underscored that an acquitted accused stands on a higher pedestal than an accused facing trial, who is presumed to be innocent until he is proven guilty.

"It is well-settled in our jurisprudence that bail is the rule, and jail is the exception... When an accused faces trial, he is presumed to be innocent until he is proven guilty. In the case of an acquitted accused, the presumption of innocence is further strengthened because of the...