The Bassi Pathana Primary Co-Operative Agricuture Dev. Bank Ltd. v. Sukhdev Singh

In the High Court for the States of Punjab and Haryana at Chandigarh CRM-A-408-2025 (O&M) Date of Decision:- 29.10.2025 The Bassi Pathana Primary Cooperative Agriculture Development Bank Ltd. ... Appellant/Applicant

Versus

Sukhdev Singh ... Respondent

CORAM:

HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE SUBHAS MEHLA Present:- Mr. Prashant Kapila, Advocate, for the appellant.

***** SUBHAS MEHLA , J. (Oral) 1.

The present application has been preferred under Section 419 of Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS), 2023 seeking grant of leave to file an appeal against the judgment of acquittal dated 02.12.2024 passed by learned Judicial Magistrate Ist Class, Fatehgarh Sahib, Punjab, in a complaint case filed under Section 138 of the Negotiable Instruments Act, 1881 (hereinafter 'NI Act').

2.

The Hon'ble Supreme Court in M/s Celestium Financial vs. A. Gnanasekaran Etc., 2025(3) RCR (Criminal) 208, after considerable discussion and comparative interpretation of Sections 372 and 378(4) of Cr.P.C., concluded that the victim has a right to file an appeal under Section 372 of Cr.P.C. before the Court of Sessions. Reliance in this regard can also be placed on Satish Kumar Versus Jugal Kishor in CRM-A-2700-MA-2018 GEETA RANI 2025.11.11 12:32 I attest to the accuracy and integrity of this document Punjab & Haryana High Court at Chandigarh

CRM-A-408-2025 (O&M) ( 2 ) decided on 02.07.2025. Further, the Hon'ble Supreme Court in Directorate of Revenue Intelligence Vs. Raj Kumar Arora in SCC Online 819 has clarified that as a rule of thumb, judgments rendered shall be applicable retrospectively.

3.

Therefore, in view of the judgment rendered by the Apex Court in Celestium Financial (supra), the present application seeking leave to appeal is remanded back to the learned Sessions Judge concerned with a direction to treat the same as filed under Section 413 of BNSS and to dispose of by himself/herself or entrust it to appropriate Court for its disposal. 4.

The Registry is directed to send the complete paper-book and the record of the case to the learned Sessions Judge concerned forthwith. 5.

Disposed of accordingly.

( SUBHAS MEHLA ) 29.10.2025 JUDGE Geeta Whether speaking /reasoned Yes / No Whether Reportable Yes / No GEETA RANI 2025.11.11 12:32 I attest to the accuracy and integrity of this document Punjab & Haryana High Court at Chandigarh