Patna High Court

LAL BABU YADAVversusTHE STATE OF BIHAR

Decided: 23 March 2026
Disposal: CONVERTED
Bench: PRAVEEN KUMAR

Holding

The petition may be converted into a criminal appeal under Section 14(A)(1) of the SC/ST Act.

Summary

The petitioners, Lal Babu Yadav and his sons, filed a petition in the Patna High Court seeking relief against the State of Bihar and Geeta Devi. The petition sought to convert the pending petition into a criminal appeal under Section 14(A)(1) of the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act. The learned counsel argued that the provisions of the Act allow such conversion within a four‑week period. The Court examined whether the procedural requirement of Section 14(A)(1) was satisfied and whether the petition could be treated as a criminal appeal. Finding that the petition complied with the statutory timeline, the Court permitted the conversion. The order directed the office to extend full cooperation for the conversion. Consequently, the petition was allowed to be converted into a criminal appeal.

Issues considered

Whether the petition can be converted into a criminal appeal under Section 14(A)(1) of the SC/ST Act within the prescribed period

Legislation cited

Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act — s. 14(A)(1)

Subjects

SC/ST Act
Section 14A
conversion of petition
criminal appeal
procedural law

Judgment

                        IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT PATNA
                                CRIMINAL MISCELLANEOUS No.17331 of 2024
                        Arising Out of PS. Case No.-475 Year-2023 Thana- ROSERA District- Samastipur
                   ======================================================
              1.    Lal Babu Yadav S/O Late Ram Sundar Yadav @ Sunar Yadav R/O Village-
                    Kankar, P.S- Hathauri, Distt.- Samastipur.
              2.   Surendra Kumar @ Surendra Yadav @ Chhotu Yadav S/O Lal Babu Yadav
                   R/O Village- Kankar, P.S- Hathauri, Distt.- Samastipur.
              3.   Shambhu Yadav S/O Ravindra Yadav @ Rajendra Yadav R/O Village-
                   Kankar, P.S- Hathauri, Distt.- Samastipur.

                                                                                     ... ... Petitioner/s
                                                          Versus
              1.   The State of Bihar
              2.   Geeta Devi W/O Santosh Paswan R/O Village- Kankar, P.S- Hathauri, Distt.-
                   Samastipur.

                                                          ... ... Opposite Party/s
                   ======================================================
                   Appearance :
                   For the Petitioner/s     :        Mr. Pratik Na, Advocate
                   For the Opposite Party/s :        Ms. Usha Kumari 1, APP
                   ======================================================
                   CORAM: HONOURABLE MR. JUSTICE PRAVEEN KUMAR
                                         ORAL ORDER

2     23-03-2026                   Learned counsel for the petitioners prays for and is

                     permitted to convert the present petition into a Criminal Appeal

                     (SJ) as provided under Section 14 (A) (1) of the SC/ST Act

                     within four weeks.

                                  2. Office is directed to extend all cooperation towards

                     conversion.



                                                (Praveen Kumar, J)
Jyoti/-

U         T

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