Market Committee Patiala Vs Shanti Trading Co. & Anr.

The instant application has been filed under Section 378(4) of Cr.P.C. seeking grant of leave to file an appeal against the order of acquittal dated 29.03.2012 passed by the learned Judicial Magistrate Ist Class, Patiala in Criminal Complaint No.`Comp-40t/10 of 29.03.2005, titled as 'Market Committee, Patiala Vs. Rajesh Kumar', filed under Section 39 read with Section 37 of Punjab Agricultural Produce Markets Act, 1961, whereby respondent was acquitted for commission of offence punishable under above said Section.

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It is also apt to mention here that the appellant, aggrieved against the said order passed by learned Judicial Magistrate Ist Class, Patiala on 29.03.2012, initially filed appeal before the Court of learned Sessions Judge, Patiala, which was dismissed being not maintainable and JYOTI 2026.02.10 16:28 no finding had been given on merits, vide order dated 01.08.2013. I attest to the accuracy and integrity of this document

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CRM-A-162-MA-2014

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Today, the case was fixed for addressing arguments on the application. Learned counsel for the parties, while relying upon a judgment passed by Hon’ble Supreme Court in M/s. Celestium Financial vs. A. Gnanasekaran Etc., 2025(3) RCR (Criminal) 208, made the submission while treating the present application as an appeal, filed under Sections 372 of Cr.P.C. (which is pari materia with Section 413 of Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023), the same be sent to appropriate Court for its disposal.

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Prior to judgment of Hon'ble Supreme Court in M/s. Celestium Financial’s case (supra), as per judgment in case M/s Tata Steel Limited Vs. M/s Atma Tube Produced Limited, 2013(2), R.C.R (Criminal), 1005, rendered by Full Bench of this Court, a victim in a private complaint case can challenge the judgment of acquittal by filing an appeal only before the High Court, after seeking special leave to appeal under Section 378(4) of Cr.P.C. The Hon'ble Supreme Court in M/s. Celestium Financial’s case (supra) after comparative interpretation of under Section 372 of Cr.P.C. and Section 378(4) of Cr.P.C. observed that the victim has a right to file an appeal under Section 372 of Cr.P.C. before the Court of Sessions. The Hon’ble Supreme Court has observed as follows:

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“7.12 The reasons for the above distinction are not far to see and can be elaborated as follows: Firstly, the victim of a crime must have an absolute right to prefer an appeal which cannot be circumscribed by any condition precedent. In the instant case, a victim under Section 138 of the Act, i.e., a payee or the holder of a cheque is a person who has suffered the impact of the offence committed by a person who is charged of the offence, namely, the accused, whose cheque has been dishonoured. Secondly, the right of a victim of a crime must be placed on par with the right of an accused who has suffered a conviction, who, as a matter of right can prefer an appeal under Section 374 of the Cr.P.C. A person convicted of a crime has the right to prefer an appeal under Section 374 as a matter of right and not being subjected to any conditions. Similarly, a victim of a crime, whatever be the nature of the crime, unconditionally must have a right to prefer

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JYOTI 2026.02.10 16:28 I attest to the accuracy and integrity of this document

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an appeal. Thirdly, it is for this reason that the Parliament thought it fit to insert the proviso to sub-section 372 without mandating any condition precedent to be fulfilled by the victim of an offence, which expression also includes the legal representatives of a deceased victim who can prefer an appeal. On the contrary, as against an order of acquittal, the State, through the Public Prosecutor can prefer an appeal even if the complainant does not prefer such an appeal, though of course such an appeal is with the leave of the court. However, it is not always necessary for the State or a complainant to prefer an appeal. But when it comes to a victim's right to prefer an appeal, the insistence on seeking special leave to appeal from the High Court under Section 378(4) of the Cr.P.C. would be contrary to what has been intended by the Parliament by insertion of the proviso to Section 372 of the Cr.P.C. Fourthly, the Parliament has not amended Section 378 to circumscribe the victim's right to prefer an appeal just as it has with regard to a complainant or the State filing an appeal. On the other hand, the Parliament has inserted the proviso to Section 372 so as to envisage a superior right for the victim of an offence to prefer an appeal on the grounds mentioned therein as compared to a complainant. Fifthly, the involvement of the State in respect of an offence under Section 138 of the Act is conspicuous by its absence. This is because the complaint filed under that provision is in the nature of a private complaint as per Section 200 of the Cr.P.C. and Section 143 of the Act by an express intention incorporates the provisions of the Cr.P.C. in the matter of trial of such a deemed offence tried as a criminal offence. Therefore, the complainant, who is the victim of a dishonour of cheque must be construed to be victim in terms of the proviso to Section 372 read with the definition of victim under Section 2(wa) of the Cr.P.C.”

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Thus as per the proposition of law laid down by the Apex Court in M/s. Celestium Financial’s case (supra), an appeal against order of acquittal in a proceeding under Indian Penal Code preferred by the complainant squarely falls within the ambit of proviso of Section 372 of Cr.P.C. A co-ordinate Bench of this Court in Raj Kumar Vs. Rajender in CRM-A-826 of 2025, decided on 07.07.2025 and Satish Kumar vs. Jugal Kishore, CRM-A-2700-MA-2018, while relying upon M/s. Celestium Financial’s case (supra), has ordered to treat the application seeking leave to file appeal as an appeal filed under Section 372 of Cr.P.C.

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In view of the judgment of Hon’ble Supreme Court in M/s. Celestium Financial’s case (supra), a direction is given to learned Sessions JYOTI 2026.02.10 16:28 Judge, Patiala to treat this application/appeal as filed under Section 372 of I attest to the accuracy and integrity of this document

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Cr.P.C. He/she shall either decide the appeal himself/herself or entrust the same to appropriate Court for its disposal.

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It is clarified that nothing has been observed regarding merits of the case and it has been left open for the consideration of the Sessions Court concerned to consider the merits of the appeal.

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Learned counsel for the applicant, present in Court, directed to inform the applicant for appearance before the Sessions Court, Patiala. The parties are also directed to appear before the learned Sessions Judge, Patiala in person or through his counsel on 18.03.2026.

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