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High Court of Punjab and HaryanaCRM-A/451/2023disposed of

Sant Lal v. Gurcharan Singh

2026-04-27Mr. Justice Subhas Mehla2 pages

IN THE HIGH COURT OF PUNJAB AND HARYANA AT

CHANDIGARH (278) CRM-A-451-2023 DATE OF DECISION: 27.04.2026 Sant Lal ........Applicant

VERSUS

Gurcharan Singh .........Respondent

CORAM

HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE SUBHAS MEHLA

Present

Mr.Nirmaljeet Singh Sidhu, Advocate, 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 02.02.2023 passed by learned Judicial Magistrate Ist Class, Phul, 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 decided on 02.07.2025. Further, the Hon'ble Supreme Court in Directorate of Revenue Intelligence Vs. Raj Kumar Arora in 2025 INSC 498; 2025 SCC Online 819 has clarified that as a rule of thumb, judgments rendered shall be applicable retrospectively.

MAMTA 2026.04.29 10:24 I attest to the accuracy and integrity of this document

CRM-A-451-2023 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 372 of the Cr.P.C. 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.

27.04.2026 (SUBHAS MEHLA) mamta JUDGE Whether speaking/reasoned Yes/No Whether reportable Yes/No MAMTA 2026.04.29 10:24 I attest to the accuracy and integrity of this document