It is averred in the application that applicantappellant remained under impression that his counsel, who had conducted his case in the Court of learned Additional District & Sessions Judge, Fast Track, Special Court (POCSO), District Shimla, would file necessary appeal against the judgment of conviction and order of sentence, but he came to know in the second week of December, 2023 that no appeal has been filed on his behalf against the judgment of conviction and order of sentence recorded against him. After having discovered factum with regard to non-filing of appeal, applicant-appellant engaged new counsel and requested him to file appeal before the Court against the judgment of conviction and order of sentence. Counsel engaged by the applicant-appellant thereafter, applied for certified copy of judgment of conviction and order of sentence, which came to be supplied on 21.12.2023 and thereafter in the first week of January, 2024 accompanying appeal came to be filed. Though this Court is persuaded to agree with Mr. Rajan Kahol, learned Additional Advocate General, that plausible explanation qua inordinate delay in maintaining the accompanying appeal has not been rendered on record, but this Court cannot lose sight of the fact that immediately after passing of judgment of conviction and order of sentence dated 30.12.2022, applicant-appellant was taken into custody and thereafter, he was wholly dependent upon the
