Bombay High Court
SATYAVAN SOMNATH ZURULEversusVASANAT BAJRANG METKARI AND ANR
- Disposal
- Disposed Off
Holding
The appeal is transferred to the Sessions Court having jurisdiction, and the High Court proceedings are disposed of.
Summary
The appellant, Satyavan Somnath Zurule, was absent from the hearing of Criminal Appeal No. 77 of 2015 before the Bombay High Court, Kolhapur Bench. The State, represented by Ms. Mahalakshmi Ganapathy, relied on the Supreme Court decision in Celestium Financial Ltd. v. A. Gnanasekaran (2025 SCC OnLine SC 1320) to argue that the matter should be heard by a Sessions Court having jurisdiction. The Court agreed that the appeal was improperly before it and ordered its transfer to the appropriate Sessions Court. The Registrar was directed to effect the transfer and the Sessions Court was instructed to re‑register the case, issue notices, and expedite the proceedings. Consequently, the appeal and any interim applications were disposed of.
Issues considered
- Whether the High Court has jurisdiction to entertain Criminal Appeal No. 77 of 2015 or the matter should be transferred to a Sessions Court
- Whether the Supreme Court precedent in Celestium Financial Ltd. v. A. Gnanasekaran mandates transfer of such proceedings
Subjects
- jurisdiction
- transfer of criminal proceedings
- Sessions Court
- high court appellate jurisdiction
- procedural law
Judgment
Digitally signed
by LAXMIKANT
LAXMIKANT GOPAL
GOPAL CHANDAN
916-APEAL-77-2015 (CR).DOCX
CHANDAN Date:
2026.08.24
19:31:22 +0530
lgc
IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT BOMBAY
CIRCUIT BENCH AT KOLHAPUR
CRIMINAL APPELLATE JURISDICTION
CRIMINAL APPEAL NO. 77 OF 2015
Satyavan Somnath Zurule : Appellant
VERSUS
Vasanat Bajrang Metkari And Anr : Respondents
__________________________________________________________
None for the Appellant.
Ms. Mahalakshmi Ganapathy, APP for the Respondent – State.
__________________________________________________________
CORAM : ASHWIN D. BHOBE, J.
DATED : 21 AUGUST 2026
PC:-
1. When this matter is called out, neither the Appellant nor the
Advocate for the Appellant are present physically or through V. C.
mode.
2. Learned APP for the Respondent – State, by referring to the
decision of the Hon’ble Supreme Court in the case of Celestium
Financial Vs. A. Gnanasekaran Etc., reported in 2025 SCC OnLine
SC 1320, submits that these proceedings would now lay before the
Sessions Court having jurisdiction. She therefore submits that
these proceedings be transferred to the Sessions Court having
jurisdiction.
3. In view of the above, the following order is passed :-
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916-APEAL-77-2015 (CR).DOCX
(i) The present proceedings be transferred to the Sessions
Court, having jurisdiction;
(ii) The Registrar (Judicial) of this Court to take appropriate
steps for transferring these proceedings to the Sessions
Court, having jurisdiction;
(iii) The Sessions Court, to which these proceedings would be
transferred or assigned, after re-registration of the same,
shall issue notice to the parties to the said proceedings
and thereafter proceed with the matter on its own merits
and in accordance with law.
(iv) Considering the proceedings which are now being
transferred have been pending for some time, the
Sessions Court to which these proceedings would be
assigned is requested to make an endeavour to expedite
the proceedings. Parties shall cooperate in the early
disposal of the proceedings.
4. Criminal Appeal No.77 of 2015 is disposed of.
5. Interim Application, if any, is also disposed of.
(ASHWIN D. BHOBE, J.)
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