Q. Which of the following provisions of the Indian Constitution ensure fair trial at courts of law?

1. A person is always assumed to be guilty unless proven otherwise.
2. No person is punished for the same offence more than once.
3. No law shall declare any action as illegal from a backdate.

Select the correct answer from the codes given below:
Answer: Only 2 and 3
Notes: The first statement is not correct. Under the Constitutional arrangements, no one is guilty unless the court has found that person guilty of an offence. It is also necessary that a person accused of any crime should get adequate opportunity to defend herself or himself. To ensure a fair trial in courts, the Constitution has provided three rights:

• no person would be punished for the same offence more than once
• no law shall declare any action as illegal from a backdate, and
• no person shall be asked to give evidence against himself or herself.