Sangeeta Devi @ Sangita Kumari v. The State of Bihar
Criminal Procedure – Maintainability of victim's appeal against acquittal
Case brief
What is this about?
Victim/complainant's appeal against acquittal — maintainability — wrong forum. Keywords: proviso to Section 372 Cr.PC; Proviso to Section 413 B.N.S.; victim's right of appeal against acquittal; Sessions Court as ordinary appellate forum from Judicial Magistrate; appeal before High Court misconceived; withdrawal with liberty; condonation of delay under Section 14 of the Limitation Act. Relied on: Smt. Suman Devi vs State of Bihar, 2025 SCC Online Pat 1862. Patna High Court, Criminal Appeal (SJ) No.5086 of 2023, decided 13-01-2026 by Jitendra Kumar, J; appeal out of Complaint Case No. 555C of 2005 (PS Case No. 555/2005, Nalanda) dismissed as not withdrawn.
What did the court decide?
Appeal dismissed as not withdrawn, with liberty to file an appeal before the competent Court (Sessions Court) within one month; if filed within that period, the court below is to consider condoning the delay under Section 14 of the Limitation Act.