India, July 29 -- Underlining that a "single opportunity" does not constitute a "sufficient opportunity" under the law, a Delhi court has set aside a magistrate's order that closed a woman's right to lead defence evidence in a cheque bounce case.

Additional Sessions Judge Shefali Barnala Tandon also said that the Constitution guarantees a fair trial, which includes a reasonable opportunity of defence for the accused.

In an order dated July 22, the court said, "Law is well settled that a fair trial is the foundation of justice and without affording an accused the opportunity to present a defence, the trial is rendered a mere formality rather than a judicial process."

It noted that the revision petition was filed against the magisterial ...