Chawla Enterprises Tanda Road Jalandhar v. Kalra Ispat And ORS

In the High Court for the States of Punjab and Haryana at Chandigarh 237-I CRM-A-1502-MA-2016 (O&M) Date of Decision:- 06.11.2025 Chawla Enterprises ... Applicant

Versus

Kalra Ispat and another ... Respondents

CORAM:

HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE SUBHAS MEHLA Present:- None for the applicant.

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

The present application has been preferred under Section 378(4) of the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973 (hereinafter 'Cr.P.C.') seeking grant of leave to appeal against the judgment of acquittal dated 10.06.2016 passed by learned Judicial Magistrate Ist Class, Jalandhar, in a complaint case filed under Section 138 of the Negotiable Instruments Act, 1881 (hereinafter 'NI Act').

2.

Ms. Rishma Verma, Advocate appears on behalf of the respondents and has filed power of attorney, the same is taken on record. 3.

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 GEETA RANI 2025.11.14 15:08 I attest to the accuracy and integrity of this document Punjab & Haryana High Court at Chandigarh

CRM-A-1502-MA-2016 (O&M) ( 2 ) be placed on Satish Kumar Versus Jugal Kishor in CRM-A-2700-MA-2018 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.

4.

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 372 of the Cr.P.C. and to dispose of by himself/herself or entrust it to appropriate Court for its disposal. 5.

The Registry is directed to send the complete paper-book and the record of the case to the learned Sessions Judge concerned forthwith. 6.

Disposed of accordingly.

( SUBHAS MEHLA ) 06.11.2025 JUDGE Geeta Whether speaking /reasoned Yes / No Whether Reportable Yes / No GEETA RANI 2025.11.14 15:08 I attest to the accuracy and integrity of this document Punjab & Haryana High Court at Chandigarh