T.Meenatchi v. The State of Tamil Nadu, Rep by the Inspector of Police,

IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT MADRAS DATED: 23-07-2026 CORAM THE HONOURABLE MR JUSTICE M. NIRMAL KUMAR CRL MP Nos. 12890 & 12891 of 2026 in CRL A SR Nos.88233 & 88234 of 2025 CRL MP Nos. 12890 of 2026 T.Meenatchi Petitioner(s) Vs

¶1The State of Tamil Nadu, Rep by The Inspector of Police, Kuthalam Police Station, Kuthalam Taluk, Mayiladuthurai District.

2.P.Kalyanam

3.K.Anbalagan Respondent(s) CRL MP No. 12891 of 2026 T.Meenatchi Appellant(s) Vs

¶1The State of Tamil Nadu, Rep by The Inspector of Police, Kuthalam Police Station, Kuthalam Taluk, Mayiladuthurai District.

2.P.Govindaraj

3.K.Arivazhagan @ Arivuselvan

4.Driver M.Ravi @ Ravichandhiran Respondent(s) Appearance of counsel in both petitions: For Petitioner(s): Ms.S.Illamvaludhi For Respondent(s): Mr.Durai Gunasekaran Government Advocate (Crl. Side) Assisted by M. Arul Raj For R1 COMMON ORDER The Criminal Miscellaneous Petition in Crl.M.P.No.12890 of 2026 has been filed to condone the delay of 19 days in filing the criminal appeal against the order dated 08.08.2025 in C.A.No.5 of 2024 on the file of the Learned District and Sessions Judge, Mayiladuthurai.

¶2The Criminal Miscellaneous Petition in Crl.M.P.No.12891 of 2026 has been filed to condone the delay of 19 days in filing the criminal appeal against the order dated 08.08.2025 in C.A.No.6 of 2024 on the file of the Learned District and Sessions Judge, Mayiladuthurai.

¶3The petitioner/appellant is the de facto complainant in Crime No.96 of 2012. On conclusion of the investigation, a charge sheet was filed in C.C.No.77 of 2012 on the file of the Judicial Magistrate No.I Court, Mayiladuthurai, against seven accused persons.

¶4The convicted persons preferred three separate appeals: Accused A1 preferred C.A.No.4 of 2024. A2 and A4 preferred C.A.No.5 of 2024; and A3, A5, and A7 preferred C.A.No.6 of 2024. Since Accused A6 died during the pendency of the trial, the remaining six convicted accused preferred these three separate appeals. The learned Sessions Judge heard all three appeals together and, by a common judgment dated 08.08.2025, allowed the appeals and acquitted the respondents/accused. Challenging the acquittal, the victim/de facto complainant has filed the present appeals. The criminal appeal against A1, numbered as Crl.A.No.684 of 2026, which is pending for admission. The appeal against A2 and A4 has been filed along with the condonation of delay petition in Crl.M.P.No.12890 of 2026. Similarly, the appeal against A3, A5, and A7 has been filed along with the condonation of delay petition in Crl.M.P.No.12891 of 2026.

¶5It is submitted that the appellant had originally intended to file the appeals within the limitation period. However, since the lower appellate Court passed a common judgement, only one certified copy of the judgement was available. The said copy was filed along with Crl.A.No.684 of 2026. Subsequently, dispense with the production of certified copies had to be filed for the other appeals, resulting in a technical delay of 19 days.

¶6Considering the facts and circumstances, and noting that the delay is purely technical and administrative, this Court deems it fit to dispense with notice to the respondents. Accordingly, both Criminal Miscellaneous Petitions (Crl.M.P.Nos.12890 and 12891 of 2026) are allowed, and the delay is condoned.

¶7Registry is directed to number all the criminal appeals, it is otherwise in order, and list all the three connected appeals together for admission. 23-07-2026 Jd M.NIRMAL KUMAR J. jd in CRL A SR Nos.88233 & 88234 of 2025 23-07-2026