ORDER

1. Special leave granted.

2. It is difficult to appreciate the approach of the High Court in the revision application for the reason that there is no bar against the examination of a witness even at a stage subsequent to the recording of the statement of the accused in exercise of power under Section 311 of the Criminal 9 Procedure Code. This fact is recognised in para 4 of the impugned order.

However, the reason why the learned Judge refused the prayer was that it would require the recalling of the witness at a belated stage and that would cause prejudice to the accused person. What is important is that if the interest of justice so demands and a witness is required to be recalled or even a court witness is required to be examined, the inconvenience that may be caused of recalling witnesses, for cross-examination, if that becomes necessary in order to ensure that there is no prejudice caused to the accused persons, should not by itself be a ground to refrain from recalling the witness or examining a witness. The observation of the learned Judge that it gives the impression as if the prosecution is tilting in favour of one party at the cost of the other, does not seem to be whol