Nahar Singh v. State of Punjab and Others

o 231o o INoTHEoHIGHoCOURToOFoPUNJABoANDoHARYANAoo AToCHANDIGARHo o CRM-26603-2014o CRM-25619-2014o oCRM-A-1316-MA-2014o DateoofoDecision:o23.01.2023o o o NAHARoSINGHo oooooooooooo…Applicanto Versuso STATEoOFoPUNJABoANDoOTHERSo …Respondentso CORAM:oo HON'BLEoMR.oJUSTICEoHARSHoBUNGERo o Presento:o Mr.oTejinderoPaloSingh,oAdvocateo o o forotheoapplicant.o o o o Mr.oSubhashoGodara,oAdditionaloA.G.oPunjab.o o o Mr.oH.S.oRandhawa,oAdvocateo(Legaloaidocounsel)o o o fororespondentoNo.o2oo o o o Mr.oJ.S.oBrar,oAdvocateoo o o fororespondentoNo.o3.o o o HARSHoBUNGER,oJ.oo o CRM-25619-2014o o o o Thisoisoanoapplicationoforoexemptionofromofilingocertifiedocopyo ofo judgmento datedo 03.11.2009o passedo byo learnedo Judicialo Magistrateoooooooooooooooooooooo IstoClass,oDhuri.o o o Foro theo reasonso recordedo ino theo application,o theo sameo iso allowed,oasoprayedofor.o CRM-26603-2014oandoCRM-A-1316-MA-2014o o o o Theo instanto applicationo (CRM-A-1316-MA-2014)o haso beeno filedounderoSectiono378(4)oofotheoCodeoofoCriminaloProcedure,o1973o(foro shorto`theoCr.P.C.')oforograntoofoleaveotooappealoagainstoimpugnedojudgmento ofo acquittalo datedo 03.11.2009o passedo byo learnedo Judicialo Magistrateo Isto Class,oDhurioandojudgmentodatedo26.05.2011opassedobyolearnedoAdditionalo Sessionso Judge,o Sangrur,o video which,o theo appealo filedo byo theo petitionero againstosaidojudgmentodatedo03.11.2009,ohasobeenodismissed.ooo o o Briefo factso ofo theo caseo areo thato theo applicant-complainanto submittedoaocomplaintoagainstoBagheraoSinghoandoSukhpaloSinghobyostatingo thatoinotheoyearo2003-2004,oheogaveohiso43obighasoofolandoonothekaobasisoooooooo @oRs.2,800/-operobighaotooBagheraoSinghoforowhichoaowritingowasoexecutedo andoBagheraoSingh,oagreedotoopayoRs.1,18,000/-obeforeo06.11.2002,oatotheo timeoofoharvestingoseasonoofopaddyocrop.oItowasostatedoinotheocomplaintothato BagheraoSingh,odidonotokeepohisowordsoandothenotheocomplainantostoppedo himo fromo harvestingo theo paddyo crop,o whereupon,o theo respectableso ando SarpanchoSukhpaloSinghointervenedoandoBagheraoSinghoagreedotoopayotheo wholeoamountoafterosellingotheopaddyocrop.oItoisostatedoinotheocomplaintothato saidoSarpanchoSukhpaloSinghotookotheoguaranteeoregardingotheopaymentoando saido thato uptilo 15.11.2003,o heo wouldo takeo theo amounto fromoooooooooooooooooooooo BagheraoSinghoalongowithoRs.5,000/-oandowouldohandooverotheosameotoo complainant-NaharoSinghoandothereafter,otheocomplainantowouldonotoaskoforo moneyofromosaidoBagheraoSingh.oAowritingowasoagainosaidotoohaveobeeno executed,o whicho waso signedo byo Sarpancho Sukhpalo Singho ando alsoo theo witnesses.oItowasostatedothatouponoexpiryoofotheotimeolimit,otheoapplicant-complainanto requestedo Bagherao Singho ando Sukhpalo Singho too payo Rs.1,23,000/-;ohowever,otheyoputooffotheomatteroonooneopretextoorotheoothero andoosaidoothatootheyoowouldoopayootheoowholeooamountoalongowithointerestoandoo againo executedo anothero writingo ino thiso regard.o Ito waso statedo thato subsequently,o wheno applicant-complainanto inquiredo abouto paymento fromo Bagherao Singho ando Sarpancho Sukhpalo Singh,o theyo becameo arroganto ando refusedotoomakeoanyopaymentoandoratheroextendedothreatsotootheoapplicant-o complainant,owhereupon,oaocomplaintowasosubmittedotootheopolice,oallegingo thatoBagheraoSinghoandoSukhpaloSingh,obothohadoconnivedowithoeachoothero ando cheatedo theo applicant-complainanto ando hado mis-appropriatedo theo amountoofoThekao(lease).oAnotherocomplaintowasosubmittedotootheoSenioro Superintendento ofo Police,o Sangruroono18.05.2006.o Itoappearso thatoono theo basisoofotheocomplaintosubmittedobyotheoapplicant-complainant,ocaseoFIRo No.12odatedo20.02.2006oatoPoliceoStationoSherupurounderoSectionso420oando 120-Bo ofo theo Indiano Penalo Code,o waso registeredo ando accordingly,o theo chargesowereoalsooframedounderotheosaidosections.o o o Inoorderotooproveohisocase,otheoprosecutionohadoexaminedoPW-1o InspectoroDalipoSingh,oPW-2oNaharoSingho(applicant-complainant),oPW-3o BhajanoSingh,oPW-4oASIoGurdialoSingh,oPW5oJaswantoSingh,oPW-6oASIo SantoSinghoandovariousodocumentsowereosubmitted.oThereafter,ostatementoofo theoaccusedounderoSectiono313oofotheoCodeoofoCriminaloProcedure,owaso recordedoandoallotheoincriminatingocircumstances/evidenceowasoputotootheo accused,owhichowereodeniedobyothem.oBagheraoSinghotookoaopleaothatoheohado takenotheolandoofotheoapplicant-complainantoonothekaobasisoforooneoyearoando heowasostoppedobyotheocomplainantohimselfofromoharvestingotheocrop.oItowaso hisostandothatoSarpanchoSukhpaloSingh,ohadoreceivedotheoamountofromohimo ando thereafter,o theo complainanto hado takeno theo possessiono ofo theoooooooooooooooooooooo land.oSukhpalooSinghootookotheopleaothatoheohadogototheocompromiseoeffectedoo betweeno theo partieso ando heo haso noo personalo relationo oro interesto ino theo compromiseo ando heo merelyo participatedo ino theo compromiseo beingo aoooooooooooooo co-villager.o o o Afteroappreciatingotheoentireoevidenceoavailableoonotheorecord,o theolearnedotrialoCourt,ovideoitsojudgmentodatedo03.11.2009,oacquittedotheo respondents-accusedoofotheochargesoframedoagainstothemobyogivingothemotheo benefitoofodoubtoandoheldoasoundero:-o o "13.o Inotheopresentocase,owhenotheopartiesoenteredointoo anoagreementoofoTheka,oitowasoagreedobetweenotheopartieso thatotheoaccusedoBagheraoSinghowouldopayotheoamountoofo Thekao beforeo 06.11.2002o ato theo timeo ofo harvestingo theo paddyo crop.o Meaningo therebyoatotheotimeo ofo transaction,o thereowasonoodishonestointentionoofotheoaccused.oItoisowello settledolawothatotooconstituteotheooffenceounderoSectiono420o IPCotheodishonestointentionoofotheopartyomustobeothereofromo theo veryobeginningoofotheotransaction,o butoino theopresento case,otheoaccusedocouldonotokeepohisowords.oThereoisonoo evidenceo ono record,o fromo whicho ito couldo beo inferredo oro provedo byo theo prosecutiono thato accusedo hado dishonesto intentionoatotheotimeoofoexecutionoofoagreementoofothekaotoo cheato theo complainant.o Theo liabilityo ofo theo accusedo iso ofo civilonature.oTheocomplainantocouldohaveofiledoaocivilosuito againstotheoaccusedotoorecoverotheoamount.oSo,oIoamoofotheo consideredoviewothatonoooffenceounderoSectiono420oIPCooro 120-BoIPCoisomadeooutoagainstotheoaccusedopersons.oSo,o botho theo accusedo areo acquittedo ofo theo chargeo framedo againsto themo giveno themo theo benefito ofo doubto aso theo prosecutionohasomiserablyofailedotooproveotheocaseoagainsto theo accusedo beyondo reasonableo shadowo ofo doubt.o Caseo propertyobeo disposedoofoasopero rules,o afterotheo expiryo ofo periodoofoappealoororevision,oifoany.oFileobeoconsignedotoo theorecordoroom."o o o Theoabove-saidojudgmentodatedo03.11.2009opassedobyolearnedo Judicialo Magistrateo Isto Class,o Dhuri,o waso impugnedo byo theo applicant-complainanto byo filingo ano appealo beforeo theo Sessionso Judge,o Sangrur;o however,otheosameowasodismissed,obeingonotomaintainableovideojudgmento datedo 26.05.2011o passedo byo Sessionso Judge,o Sangrur,o byo observingo asoooo undero:-o o "12.o Itocomesooutofromotheoaboveosaidoobservationsoofo theo Hon'bleo Supremeo Courto thato incorporationo ofo theo ProvisootooSectiono372oofotheoCodeohasotootakeoeffectofromo theodateoofoitsoincorporationoandoitohasonooapplicationotootheo casesodecidedopriorotoosuchoincorporation.oTheoProvisootoo Sectiono372oofotheoCodeowasoincorporatedovideoSectiono29o ofotheoCodeoofoCriminaloProcedureo(Amendment)oAct,o2008o (5o ofo 2009)o witho effecto fromo 31.12.2009.o Theo judgmento undero appealo waso passedo prioro too thato dayo i.e.o ono

03.11.2009o and,o aso sucho theo appealo beforeo thiso Courto againsto thato judgmento iso noto competent.o Theo appeal,o therefore,o iso noto maintainableo beforeo thiso Courto ando is,o accordingly,odismissed."o o o Thereafter,otheopresentoapplicationounderoSectiono378(4)oofotheo CodeoofoCriminaloProcedure,oseekingoleaveotooappealoagainstotheoabove-saido judgmentodatedo03.11.2009opassedobyotheolearnedoJudicialoMagistrateoIsto Class,o Dhurio aso wello aso judgmento datedo 26.05.2011o passedo byo learnedo Sessionso Judge,o Sangrur,o alongo witho theo appeal,o haso beeno filedo byo theo applicant-complainant.o o o Itoisoappositeotoonoteothatotheoabove-saidoapplicationooo(CRM-A-1316-MA-2014)ounderoSectiono378(4)oofotheoCodeoofoCriminaloProcedure,o hasobeenofiledoafterotheodelayoofo1734odays;oaccordingly,oanoapplicationo (CRM-26603-2014)ounderooSectiono5ooofootheoLimitationoAct,ohasooalsooobeenoo filed,oseekingocondonationoofodelay.oo o o o o Atotheoveryooutset,olearnedocounseloappearingofororespondentso No.2oando3ohaveoraisedoaopreliminaryoobjectionobeforeothisoCourtothatotheo impugnedojudgmentoofoacquittalohasobeenopassedobyotheolearnedotrialoCourto ono03.11.2009;oconsequently,otheocomplainantohadonoorightotoofileoanoappealo againstotheojudgmentoofoacquittalopassedobyotheolearnedoJudicialoMagistrateo st1 oClass,oDhuri;ohoweverostillotheoapplicant-complainantofiledoanoappealo beforeotheoCourtoofoSessionsoJudge,oSangrur;owhichowasodismissedoasonoto maintainableo video judgmento datedo 26.05.2011.o Thereafter,o theo applicant-complainantosleptooverotheomatteroandotheopresentoapplicationounderoSectiono 378(4)o Cr.P.C.o foro leaveo too appealo alongwitho appealo haso beeno filedo accompaniedobyoanoapplicationounderosectiono5oofoLimitationoAct,oseekingo condonationo ofo unexplainedo delayo ofo 1734o days.o Learnedo counselo foro respondentsoNo.o2oando3ohaveoalsoosubmittedothatotheoprovisootooSectionooooooo 372oCr.P.C.,owherebyotheovictimohasobeenograntedotheorightotoofileoanoappealo againsto theo acquittalo waso insertedo w.e.f.o 31.12.2009o ando theo sameo iso prospectiveoinonature.oConsequently,otheoappealoisonotomaintainableobeforeo thisoCourt.oLearnedocounseloforotheorespondentsoalsooplacedorelianceoonotheo lawolaidodownobyoFulloBenchoofothisoCourtoino"M/soTataoSteeloLtd.ov.oM/so AtmaoTubeoProductsoLtd.oandoothers"o2013(2)oRCRo(Criminal)o1005,otheo judgmentoofoHon'bleotheoSupremeoCourtoino"MallikarjunoKodagalio(Dead)o representedo througho Legalo Representativeso v.o Stateo ofo Karnatakao ando other",o2018o(4)oRCRo(Criminal)o781oandoalsootheojudgmentorenderedobyoaoooooooooooo Co-ordinateoBenchoofothisoCourtoinotheocaseoofo"JaioLalovsoRajenderoando others",o2023(1)oRCRo(Criminal)o387.o o o Theosubmissionsomadeobyolearnedocounselofororespondentsono.o 2o ando 3o haveo beeno opposedo byo learnedo counselo foro theo applicanto andoooooooooooooooooo heoocontendedoothatooinoviewooofootheoprovisionsoocontainedooinoSectiono378(4)oo Cr.P.C.,o theo appealo waso maintainableo beforeo thiso Court.o Chaptero XXIXoooooooooooooooo ofoooCodeooofooCriminalooProcedureoo1973,oodealsoowithoootheoooappeal.ooSectionooo o o 378oCr.P.C.oreadsoasounder:o-o

378.o Appealo ino caseo ofo acquittal.o -o [(1)o Saveo aso otherwiseoprovidedoinosub-sectiono(2)oandosubjectootootheoo provisionsoofosub-sectionso(3)oando(5),-o

(a)otheoDistrictoMagistrateomayoinoanyocase,odirectotheo PublicoProsecutorotoopresentoanoappealotootheoCourtoofo Sessiono fromo ano ordero ofo acquittalo passedo byo ao Magistrateoinorespectoofoaocognisableoandonon-bailableo offence;o

(b)otheoStateoGovernmentomay,oinoanyocase,odirectotheo Publico Prosecutoro too presento ano appealo too theo Higho Courto fromo ano originalo oro appellateo ordero ofo ano acquittalopassedobyoanyoCourtootherothanoaoHighoCourto [noto beingo ano ordero undero clause(a)]o oro ano ordero ofo acquittalopassedobyotheoCourtoofoSessionoinorevision.]oo

(2)oIfosuchoanoorderoofoacquittaloisopassedoinoanyocaseoino whicho theo offenceo haso beeno investigatedo byo theo Delhio Specialo Policeo Establishmento constitutedo undero theo Delhio Specialo Policeo Establishmento Act,o 1946o (25o ofo 1946),o oro byo anyo othero agencyo empoweredo too makeo investigationo intoo ano offenceo undero anyo Centralo Acto othero thano thiso Code,o [theo Centralo Governmento mayo subjectotootheoprovisionsoofosub-Sectiono(3),oalsoodirecto theoPublicoProsecutorotoopresentoanoappeal-oo

(a)otootheoCourtoofoSession,ofromoanoorderoofoacquittalo passedobyoaoMagistrateoinorespectoofoaocognisableoando non-bailableooffence;o

(b)o too theo Higho Courto fromo ano originalo oro appellateo orderoofoanoacquittalopassedobyoanyoCourtootherothanoao HighoCourto[notobeingoanoorderounderoclauseo(a)]ooroano ordero ofo acquittalo passedo byo theo Courto ofo Sessiono ino revision.]oo

(3)o[NooappealotootheoHighoCourt]ounderosub-sectiono(1)o orosub-sectiono(2)oshallobeoentertainedoexceptowithotheo

(4)oIfosuchoanoorderoofoacquittaloisopassedoinoanyocaseo institutedo upono complainto ando theo Higho Court,o ono ano applicationomadeotooitobyotheocomplainantoinothisobehalf,o grantso specialo leaveo too appealo fromo theo ordero ofo acquittal,otheocomplainantomayopresentosuchoanoappealo tootheoHighoCourt.oo

(5)oNooapplicationounderosub-sectiono(4)oforotheograntoofo specialoleaveotooappealofromoanoorderoofoacquittaloshallo beoentertainedobyotheoHighoCourtoafterotheoexpiryoofosixo months,owhereotheocomplainantoisoaopublicoservantoando sixtyodaysoinoeveryootherocase,ocomputedofromotheodateoofo thatoorderoofoacquittal.oo

(6)oIf,oinoanyocase,otheoapplicationounderosub-sectiono(4)o forotheograntoofospecialoleaveotooappealofromoanoorderoofo acquittalo iso refused,o noo appealo fromo thato ordero ofo acquittaloshallolieounderosub-sectiono(1)oorounderosub-sectiono(2).o o o Iohaveoheardolearnedocounselsoforotheopartiesoandohaveogoneo througho theo papero booko aso wello aso impugnedo judgmentso ando alsoo theo judgmentsoreliedouponobyocounseloforotheorespondent.o o o Beforeoconsideringotheoobjectionoraisedobyolearnedocounseloforo respondento no.o 2o ando 3,o ito wouldo beo appositeo too refero too theo provisionso containedoinoSectiono372oofoCr.P.C.,oasoitostoodopriorotoo31.12.2009,owhicho readoasofollows:-o "S.o372.oNooappealotoolieounlessootherwiseoprovided.o-o Nooappealoshallolieofromoanyojudgmentooroorderoofoao criminaloCourtoexceptoasoprovidedoforobyothisoCodeoorobyo anyootherolawoforotheotimeobeingoinoforce."o o o Ao bareo perusalo ofo aforesaido provisiono containedoooooooooooooooooooooo inoSectiono372oCr.P.C.o(asoitostoodopriorotoo31.12.2009)owouldoomanifestothatoo theovictimodidonotohaveotheorightotoofileoanoappeal.oThereohasoalwaysobeenoao consistentoviewothatotheoStateorepresentsotheovictimsoofotheocrime.oEveryo criminalooffenceowasotreatedotoobeoanooffenceoagainstotheoStateoandotheoStateo aloneo hado theo powero too investigateo ando prosecuteo sucho case.o Thus,o theo victim/complainantoinoaoStateocaseohadonoorightotoofileoappealoagainstotheo judgmentoofoacquittal.oo o o Theorightotooappealowasovestedoforotheofirstotimeoinoao'victim'o undero theo provisoo too Sectiono 372o ofo theo Codeo insertedo byo theo Codeo ofo Criminalo Procedureo (Amendmento Act)o 2008.o Sectiono 1(ii)o ofo theo AmendmentoActoclearlyostatedothato"itoshallocomeointooforceoonosuchodateo asotheoCentraloGovernmentomay,obyonotificationoinotheoofficialoGazette,o appoint;oandodifferentodatesomayobeoappointedoforodifferentoprovisionsoofo thisoAct".oStillofurtheroSectiono29oofotheoAmendmentoAct,o2008opertainingotoo amendmentoofoSectiono372oofotheoCodeostatesothato"inoSectiono372oofotheo PrincipaloAct,otheofollowingoprovisooshallobeoinserted,onamely:-oProvidedo thatotheovictimoshallohaveoaorightotoopreferoanoappealoagainstoanyoordero passedo byo theo Courto acquittingo theo accusedo oro convictingo foro ao lessero offenceooroimposingoinadequateocompensation,oandosuchoappealoshallolieo too theo Courto too whicho ano appealo ordinarilyo lieso againsto theo ordero ofo convictionoofosuchoCourt".o o o Theo Centralo Government,o byo Notificationo No.S.O.3313(E),o datedo30.12.2009,oappointedo31.12.2009,oasotheodateoforotheoActoNo.5oofo 2009o too comeo intoo force,o whicho waso publishedo ino theo Gazetteo ofo India,o extraordinary,o Parto 2(ii)o Sectiono 3(ii),o datedo 30.12.2009.o Thus,o theo rightoooooooooo ofo theo victim,o too prefero ano appealo ino termso ofo theo saido provisoo tooooooooooooooooooo Sectionoo372oCr.P.C.,obecameoavailableotootheovictim(s)oofoallocasesoinowhichoo orderso wereo passedo byo anyo criminalo Courto acquittingo theo accusedo oro convictingohimoforoaolesserooffenceooroimposingoinadequateocompensation,o onooroaftero31.12.2009.o o o TheoamendedoprovisionoofoSectiono372oCr.P.C.oreadsothus:-o "372.oNooappealotoolieounlessootherwiseoprovided.o-oNoo appealo shallo lieo fromo anyo judgmento oro ordero ofo ao CriminaloCourtoexceptoasoprovidedoforobyothisoCodeobyo anyootherolawoforotheotimeobeingoinoforce:o [Providedothatotheovictimoshallohaveoaorightotoopreferoano appealo againsto anyo ordero passedo byo theo Courto acquittingo theo accusedo oro convictingo foro ao lessero offenceo oro imposingo inadequateo compensation,o ando suchoappealoshallolieotootheoCourtotoowhichoanoappealo ordinarilyoliesoagainstotheoorderoofoconvictionoofosucho Court.]o o o o Further,otheoappealoagainstojudgmentsoofoacquittaloareogovernedo byotheoprovisionsoofoSectiono378oofoCr.P.C.oAsoperosubosectiono(1)oofo378o Cr.P.C.,oonlyotheoDistrictoMagistrateoorotheoState,oasotheocaseomayobe,oiso entitledotoodirectotheoPublicoProsecutorotoofileoanoappeal.oSubosectiono(2)oofo Sectiono378oofoCr.P.C.odealsowithotheocasesoinvestigatedounderotheoDelhio Specialo Policeo Establishmento Act,o 1946o ando ino thoseo cases,o theo Centralo Governmentomayoalsoodirectotheopublicoprosecutorotoofileoanoappeal.oAsopero Subosectiono(3)oofoSectiono378oCr.P.C.,onooappealotootheoHighoCourtoeithero underoSubosectiono(1)ooroSubosectiono(2)oshallobeoentertainedoexceptowithotheo leaveo ofo theo Court.o Subo sectiono (4)o dealso witho theo appealso filedo byo theo complainantoinocaseotheoorderoofoacquittaloisopassedoinoanyocaseoinstitutedo uponoaocomplaintoandotheoHighoCourt,oonoanoapplicationomadeotooitobyotheo complainantoinothisobehalf,ograntsospecialoleaveotooappealofromotheoorderoofo acquittal.oStillofurther,oSubsectiono(5)oprovidesoforotheolimitationoforofilingo theopetitionoforograntoofospecialoleaveotooappealoinotermsoofoSubsectiono(4).o Subsectiono (6)oprovideso thato ino caseo theo applicationo forospecialo leaveo too appealofiledobyoaocomplainantounderosubsectiono(4)oisorefusedothenonooappealo fromo thato ordero ofo acquittalo shallo lieo undero Subsectiono (1)o oro undero Subsectiono(2).oItoisothusoapparentothatosoofaroasotheoappealsoagainstoacquittalo areoconcerned,ocodeoofocriminaloprocedureoascribesoaopredominantoroleotoo theoState,owhooaloneowasoentitledotoofileoanoappealoinocases,owhichowereo launchedoonotheobasisoofoaoFIR.oTheoonlyoexceptionotoothisoruleoappearsotoobeo ino ao complainto case,o whereo theo complainanto couldo fileo ano appealo undero Sectiono378(4)oofoCr.P.C.oafteroseekingospecialoleaveotooappeal,oinocaseotheo appealolayotootheoHighoCourt.oo o o Itoisowellosettledothatoaorightotooappealoisoaosubstantiveorightoando itocannotobeoinferredobyoimplicationounlessotheostatuteoexpresslyoprovidesoso.o Thus,otheorightotooappealogivenotooaovictimounderotheoprovisootooSectionooooooooooooo 372oofotheoCodeohasobeenomadeoenforceableow.e.f.o31.12.2009oandotheosameo isoprospectiveoinonature.ooo o o Hon'bleoSupremeoCourtoofoIndiaoino"MallikarjunoKoKodagalio

(Dead)orepresentedothroughoLegaloRepresentativesov.oStateoofoKarnatakao andoother",o2018o(4)oRCRo(Criminal)o781ohasoheldoasofollows:-o "74.oWhatoisosignificantoisothatoseveraloHighoCourtsohaveo takenoaoconsistentoviewotootheoeffectothatotheovictimoofoano offenceo haso ao righto ofo appealo undero theo provisoo too sectiono 372o ofo theo Cr.P.C.,o 1973.o Thiso viewo iso ino consonanceowithotheoplainolanguageoofotheoproviso.oButo whatoisomoreoimportantoisothatoseveraloHighoCourtsohaveo alsootakenotheoviewothatotheodateoofotheoallegedooffenceo hasonoorelevanceotootheorightoofoappeal.oItohasobeenoheld,o andoweohaveoreferredotoothoseodecisionsoabove,othatotheo significanto dateo iso theo dateo ofo theo ordero ofo acquittalo passedobyotheoTrialoCourt.oInoaosense,otheocauseoofoactiono arisesoinofavouroofotheovictimoofoanooffenceoonlyowhenoano orderoofoacquittaloisopassedoandoifothatohappensoaftero 31stoDecember,o2009otheovictimohasoaorightotoochallengeo theoacquittal,othroughoanoappeal.oIndeed,otheorightonoto onlyoextendsotoochallengingotheoorderoofoacquittalobuto alsoo challengingo theo convictiono ofo theo accusedo foro ao lessero offenceo oro imposingo inadequateo compensation.o Theolanguageo ofotheo provisooisoquiteo explicit,oando weo shouldo noto reado nuanceso thato doo noto existo ino theo proviso."o o o Whenotheofactsoofothisocaseoareoconsideredoinotheolightoofotheo legalopositionoasoindicatedoinoforegoingoparas;otheocomplainantoinotheoinstanto caseowasonotoentitledotoofileotheoaccompanyingoappealobecauseotheoimpugnedo judgmento ofo acquittalo haso beeno passedo byo theo learnedo trialo Courto ono

03.11.2009owhichoisomuchopriorotoo31.12.2009owhenotheoprovisootooSectiono 372oCr.P.C.owasoenforcedounderotheoprovisionsoofoSectiono378o(4)oCr.P.C.o o o Inoviewoofotheoaboveodiscussion,oIoamoofotheoconsideredoviewo thatosinceoaccompanyingoappealounderoSectiono378(4)oCr.P.C.ofiledobyotheo applicant-complainanto againsto judgmento ando ordero ofo acquittalo datedo st03.11.2009opassedobyotheolearnedoJudicialoMagistrateo1 oClass,oDhurioino caseoFIRoNo.o12odatedo20.02.2006,ounderoSectionso420,oando120-BoofoIPC,o iso noto maintainableo beforeo thiso Court;o accordingly,o Io doo noto findo anyo justificationotooallowotheoapplicationounderoSectiono378(4)oofoCr.P.C.owhicho inoanyocaseohasobeenofiledoafterodelayoofo1734odays.oIoalsoodoonotofindoanyo plausibleogroundoforocondoningotheodelayoinofilingotheoapplicationoundero Sectiono378(4)oofoCr.P.C.oalongwithotheoappeal.oo o o Consequently,o theo applicationo (CRM-26603-2014)o undero Sectiono5oofotheoLimitationoActoseekingocondonationoofodelayoinofilingotheo applicationounderoSectiono378(4)oofoCr.P.C.oisodismissed.o o o Pendingoapplication/s,oifoany,oshallostandoclosed.o o o o Januaryo23,o2023oo o o o o (HARSHoBUNGER)o gurpreeto o o o o o o o JUDGEo o Whetherospeaking/reasoned:o o o Yes/Noo Whetheroreportable:o o o o Yes/No