Bombay High Court
MACHHINDRA MAHADEO CHIKHALKARversusSHIVAJI KRISHNA RANBHARE AND ANR
- Disposal
- Disposed Off
Holding
The High Court held that the criminal appeal must be transferred to the Sessions Court having jurisdiction.
Summary
Machhindra Mahadeo Chikhalkar appealed before the Bombay High Court, Circuit Bench, Kolhapur, against Shivaji Krishna Ranbhare and another. Neither the appellant nor his counsel appeared for the hearing. The State's counsel, Ms. Mahalakshmi Ganpathy, 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 tried by a Sessions Court with appropriate jurisdiction. The High Court, after noting the submission, ordered that the proceedings be transferred to the competent Sessions Court, directing the registrar to effect the transfer and the Sessions Court to re‑register and expedite the case. Consequently, Criminal Appeal No. 92 of 2018 and any interim applications were disposed of.
Issues considered
- Whether the High Court has jurisdiction to continue the criminal appeal or should transfer it to a Sessions Court having jurisdiction.
Subjects
- jurisdiction
- transfer of criminal proceedings
- High Court order
- appeal disposal
- Sessions Court
Judgment
Digitally signed
by LAXMIKANT
LAXMIKANT GOPAL
GOPAL CHANDAN 21) APEAL-92.18 (CR).DOCX
CHANDAN Date:
2026.08.24
19:47:28 +0530
lgc
IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT BOMBAY
CIRCUIT BENCH AT KOLHAPUR
CRIMINAL APPELLATE JURISDICTION
CRIMINAL APPEAL NO. 92 OF 2018
Machhindra Mahadeo Chikhalkar : Appellant.
VERSUS
Shivaji Krishna Ranbhare And Anr : Respondents
_____________________________________________________
None for the Appellant.
Ms. Mahalakshmi Ganpathy, APP for the Respondent – State.
______________________________________________________
CORAM : ASHWIN D. BHOBE, J.
DATED : 24 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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21) APEAL-92.18 (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. 92 of 2018 is disposed of.
5. Interim Application, if any, is also disposed of.
(ASHWIN D. BHOBE, J.)
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