Criminal Cases not not to be decided in abscence of lawyer

Supreme Court has now prescribed guidedlines on how to decide a criminal case if lawyer of the accused has not remained present in Court. In case of Mohd. Sukur Ali, 2011 (2) SCALE 730 the Supreme Court has said that if counsel does not remain present for whatsoever reason, a "Friend of Court Lawyer" should be appointed and than only the matter should be heard.