Holding

A victim has a substantive right to appeal under the proviso to Section 372 of the CrPC when the acquittal order is passed after 31‑December‑2009, and the appeal does not require leave of the High Court under Section 378(3).

Summary

The appellant, the legal representative of the deceased victim Mallikarjun Kodagali, challenged the acquittal of the accused in a 2009 assault case, arguing that the proviso to Section 372 of the CrPC gave the victim a right to appeal because the acquittal order was passed after the amendment's effective date of 31‑December‑2009. The High Court dismissed the appeal, holding that the proviso applied only to offences occurring after that date and that the victim must obtain leave under Section 378(3). The Supreme Court examined the language of the proviso, the legislative intent, and a series of High Court decisions, concluding that the right to appeal is a substantive statutory right that vests when the acquittal order is passed post‑2009, irrespective of the offence date, and that no leave to appeal is required. The Court emphasized a liberal, progressive interpretation of victim rights consistent with international principles. Consequently, the Supreme Court set aside the High Court judgments and remitted the matters for the victim’s appeal to be heard on its merits. The decision clarifies the scope of victim‑initiated appeals under the amended CrPC.

Issues considered

Whether a victim, as defined in Section 2(wa) of the CrPC, has a right of appeal under the proviso to Section 372 when the offence occurred before 31‑December‑2009 but the acquittal order was passed after that date.
Whether the victim must obtain leave of the High Court under Section 378(3) of the CrPC to file such an appeal.

Legislation cited

Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973s. 156, s. 173, s. 2(d), s. 2(wa), s. 301(2), s. 372, s. 378(3), s. 378(4)

Subjects

victim's right to appealSection 372 CrPCleave of appealcriminal proceduresubstantive rightacquittalvictimologyappellate jurisdiction

Judgment

[2018] 13 S.C.R. 1 1

MALLIKARJUN KODAGALI (DEAD) REPRESENTED A
THROUGH LEGAL REPRESENTATIVES
v.
THE STATE OF KARNATAKA & ORS.
(Criminal Appeal Nos. 1281-1282 of 2018) B
OCTOBER 12, 2018
[MADAN B. LOKUR, DEEPAK GUPTA AND
S. ABDUL NAZEER, JJ.]
Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973:
C
s. 372 proviso (introduced w.e.f. 31.12.2009) – Right of appeal
against acquittal to the victim of an offence – Requirement of
seeking leave of the High Court – On facts, alleged offence took
place in February 2009 – Order of acquittal passed by the trial
court in October 2013 – Appeal filed under proviso to s. 372 by the
D
victim – Dismissed by the High Court as not maintainable holding
that the proviso to s. 372 introduced w.e.f. 31.12.2009 but the
incident had occurred well before that date – On appeal, held: (Per
Lokur J) ‘Victim’ as defined in the Cr.P.C. has a right of appeal in
view of the proviso to s. 372 against an order of acquittal in a case
where the alleged offence took place prior to 31.12.2009 but the E
order of acquittal was passed by the trial court after 31.12.2009 –
Victim can file appeal without seeking leave to appeal against the
order of acquittal – Held: (Per Gupta J: Partly dissenting) When the
victim files an appeal against acquittal in the High Court he has to
seek leave to appeal u/s. 378(3) CrPC.
F
s. 372 proviso – Connotation of – Held: Proviso to s. 372
must be given a meaning that is realistic, liberal, progressive and
beneficial to the victim of an offence.
Criminal law: Rights of victims of crime – Held: Rights of an
accused far outweigh the rights of the victim of an offence in many G
respects – There needs to be some balancing of the concerns and
equalising their rights so that the criminal proceedings are fair to
both – Judiciary is obliged to go and has gone beyond merely
awarding compensation and has taken into consideration the larger
picture from the perspective of the victim of an offence – Rights of
H
1
2 SUPREME COURT REPORTS [2018] 13 S.C.R.

A victims, and indeed victimology, is an evolving jurisprudence and it
is more than appropriate to move forward in a positive direction,
rather than stand still or worse, take a step backward – Voice given
to victims of crime by Parliament and the judiciary, needs to be
heard, and if not heard, to be raised to a higher decibel.
B Allowing the appeals, the Court
HELD: Per Madan B. Lokur, J (for himself & S. Abdul Nazeer,J.):
1.1 The right to file an appeal is a substantive right and it
should not be easily recognized unless specifically conferred by
statute. It has been held that the right to appeal is not a mere
C matter of procedure but is a substantive right. [Para 71][34-D]
Garikapati Veeraya v. N. Subbiah Choudhry [1957]
SCR 488 – followed.
1.2 It is significant that several High Courts have taken a
D consistent view to the effect that the victim of an offence has a
right of appeal under the proviso to Section 372 Cr.P.C. This
view is in consonance with the plain language of the proviso. But
what is more important is that several High Courts have also
taken the view that the date of the alleged offence has no relevance
to the right of appeal. It has been held that the significant date is
E the date of the order of acquittal passed by the trial court. In a
sense, the cause of action arises in favour of the victim of an
offence only when an order of acquittal is passed and if that
happens after 31st December, 2009 the victim has a right to
challenge the acquittal, through an appeal. Indeed, the right not
F only extends to challenging the order of acquittal but also
challenging the conviction of the accused for a lesser offence or
imposing inadequate compensation. The language of the proviso
is quite explicit, and nuances that do not exist in the provisos
should not be read. [Para 74][35-B-D]
1.3 The proviso to Section 372 Cr.P.C. must also be given
G
a meaning that is realistic, liberal, progressive and beneficial to
the victim of an offence. There is a historical reason for this,
beginning with the Declaration of Basic Principles of Justice for
Victims of Crime and Abuse of Power, adopted by the General
Assembly of the United Nations in the 96th Plenary Session on
H
MALLIKARJUN KODAGALI (DEAD) REP. THR. LRS. v. 3
THE STATE OF KARNATAKA

29th November, 1985. The Declaration is sometimes referred to A
as the Magna Carta of the rights of victims. One of the significant
declarations made was in relation to access to justice for the victim
of an offence through the justice delivery mechanisms, both formal
and informal. Putting the Declaration to practice, it is quite obvious
that the victim of an offence is entitled to a variety of rights. Access
B
to mechanisms of justice and redress through formal procedures
as provided for in national legislation, must include the right to
file an appeal against an order of acquittal in a case such as the
instant one. Considered in this light, the proviso to Section 372
Cr.P.C. must be given life, to benefit the victim of an offence.
Under the circumstances, on the basis of the plain language of C
the law and also as interpreted by several High Courts and the
resolution of the General Assembly of the United Nations, it is
quite clear that a victim as defined in Section 2(wa) Cr.P.C. would
be entitled to file an appeal before the Court to which an appeal
ordinarily lies against the order of conviction. It must follow that
D
the appeal filed by the appellant before the High Court was
maintainable and ought to have been considered on its own
merits. [Para 75-77][35-E-F; 36-G-H; 37-A-B]
1.5 The language of the proviso to Section 372 Cr.P.C. is
quite clear, particularly when it is contrasted with the language of
Section 378(4). The text of this provision is quite clear and it is E
confined to an order of acquittal passed in a case instituted upon
a complaint. The word ‘complaint’ has been defined in Section
2(d) and refers to any allegation made orally or in writing to a
Magistrate. This has nothing to do with the lodging or the
registration of an FIR, and therefore it is not at all necessary to F
consider the effect of a victim being the complainant as far as the
proviso to Section 372 Cr.P.C. is concerned. [Para 78][37-C-D]
1.6 The judgment and orders passed by the High Court are
set aside and the matters are remitted back to the High Court to
hear and decide the appeal. [Para 79][37-E] G
National Commission for Women v. State of Delhi and
anr (2010) 12 SCC 599 : [2010] 10 SCR 905; Satya
Pal Singh v. State of MP & Ors. (2015) 15 SCC 613 –
distinguished.
H
4 SUPREME COURT REPORTS [2018] 13 S.C.R.

A Lalita Kumari v. Government of Uttar Pradesh (2014)
2 SCC 1 : [2013] 14 SCR 713; Girish Kumar Suneja v.
Central Board of Investigation (2017) 14 SCC 809; Hari
Singh v. Sukhbir Singh AIR 1988 SC 2127 : [1988] 2
Suppl. SCR 571; Bodhisattwa Gautam v. Subhra
Chakroborty AIR 1996 SC 922 : [1995] 6 Suppl. SCR
B
731; Ankush Shivaji Gaikwad v. State of Maharashtra
(2013) 6 SCC 770 : [2013] 8 SCR 863; Sampurna
Behura v. Union of India (2018) 4 SCC 433; Sakshi v.
Union of India (2004) 5 SCC 518 : [2004] 2 Suppl.
SCR 723; Bhavuben Dineshbhai Makwana v. State of
C Gujarat MANU/GJ/1137/2012; Mahafuja Banu v. Md.
Asadul Islam & State. (2013) 1 Cal LT 109; Gouranga
Debnaih v. State of Tripura 2011 (4) GLT 379; T.
Balakrishnan Master v. K.M. Ramachandran Master
Crl. M.A. No. 7423 of 2011; Tata Steel v. Atma Tube
Products Ltd. (2014) 173 (1) PLR 1; Smt. Ram Kaur @
D
Jaswinder Kaur v. Jagbir Singh alias Jabi and others
MANU/PH/4500/2010; Guru Prasad Yadav v. State of
Bihar Crl Appeal No. 582 of 2011; Ram Phal v. State &
Ors. 2015 (151) DRJ 562; Parmeshwar Mandal v. State
of Bihar 2014 (1) PLJR 377; Baldev Sharma v. Gopal
E & Ors 2017 (3) RLW 2604 (Raj.); Vanaja K.C. v. State
of Kerala & Ors. ILR 2016 (2) Kerala 713;
D. Sudhakar v. Panapu Sreenivasulu @ Evone Water
Sreenivasulu and Ors. MANU/AP/1172/2012; John v.
Shibu Cherian MANU/KE/1839/2011; Bhisam Prasad
Bareth v. Dinesh Mahant & Ors. MANU/CG/0079/2012
F
– referred to.
Case Law Reference
[2013] 14 SCR 713 referred to Para 3

G (2017) 14 SCC 809 referred to Para 4
[1988] 2 Suppl. SCR 571 referred to Para 4
[1995] 6 Suppl. SCR 731 referred to Para 4
[2013] 8 SCR 863 referred to Para 4
H
MALLIKARJUN KODAGALI (DEAD) REP. THR. LRS. v. 5
THE STATE OF KARNATAKA

(2018) 4 SCC 433 referred to Para 4 A
[2004] 2 Suppl. SCR 723 referred to Para 5
(2013) 1 Cal LT 109 referred to Para 38
2011 (4) GLT 379 referred to Para 39
B
(2014) 173 (1) PLR 1 referred to Para 44
2015 (151) DRJ 562 referred to Para 48
2014 (1) PLJR 377 referred to Para 50
C
2017 (3) RLW 2604 (Raj.) referred to Para 51
ILR 2016 (2) Kerala 713 referred to Para 58
(2015) 15 SCC 613 distinguished Para 70
[1957] SCR 488 followed Para 71 D
[2010] 10 SCR 905 distinguished Para 73
Per Deepak Gupta, J. (Partly Dissenting):
1.1 The proviso to Section 372 of the Code of Criminal
Procedure, must be given a meaning that is realistic, liberal, E
progressive and beneficial to the victims of the offences. However,
at the same time, one cannot ignore the rights of the accused and
the procedure prescribed by law. It cannot be accepted that a
victim can file an appeal in the High Court without seeking
F
leave to appeal in terms of Section 378(3) CrPC. [Paras 1, 2]
[37-H; 38-A-B]
1.2 It is accepted that the right to file an appeal to the victim
will arise only on the date when the judgment is passed by the
trial court because then alone the victim has a right to urge that
G
the acquittal is wrong or that the sentence awarded to the accused
is not commensurate with the offence which the accused may
have committed. Therefore, there is no doubt that the victim has
a right to appeal and to that extent the judgment of the High
Court is liable to be set aside. [Para 4][39-H; 40-A-B]
H
6 SUPREME COURT REPORTS [2018] 13 S.C.R.

A 1.3 Prior to the amendment of Section 372 CrPC the victim
had no right to file an appeal. The traditional view has always
been that the State represents the victim of the crime. Criminal
offences have always been treated to be offences against the State
and it is the State alone which investigated and prosecuted such
cases. In case the State machinery does not take action on the
B
complaint of the victim, the said victim has a right under Section
156 CrPC to approach the court. Under Section 156(3) CrPC,
the magistrate may order an investigation to be done by the police.
Once the investigation is done, then again the victim has no hand
in the investigation except to assist the investigating officer and
C to bring evidence to the notice of the investigating officer. After
investigation, the investigating officer files a final report under
Section 173 CrPC. The investigating officer may come to the
conclusion that either no offence is made out or may file report
showing what offences are made out in which case the court
proceeds further. Even in those cases where the investigating
D
agency files a report that no criminal offence is made out, the
victim has a right to object to the report and he can argue before
the court that a case is made out on the basis of the evidence
collected or he can even urge that the police must be directed to
carry out further and more investigation. [Para 6][41-D-G]
E 1.4 Chapter XXIX of the CrPC deals with appeals. Appeals
against acquittal are governed by Section 378 of CrPC. An analysis
of Section 378 of CrPC clearly shows that the CrPC envisaged
and granted a predominant role to the State. It was the State alone
which was entitled to file an appeal. The only exception was in
F complaint cases where the complainant could file an appeal. He
also had to seek special leave to appeal in case the appeal lay to
the High Court. [Para 7][41-H; 42-D, E]
1.5 Section 372 CrPC which was amended in the year 2008
to give a right to the victim is a negative section which specifically
G provided, before its amendment, that no appeal would lie from
any judgment or order of a criminal Court except as provided for
by the CrPC or by any other law in force. The Legislature while
giving a victim the right to appeal did not, for reasons best known
to it, give this right to file appeal to the victim under Section 378
CrPC or any other specific section. Surprisingly this right to the
H
MALLIKARJUN KODAGALI (DEAD) REP. THR. LRS. v. 7
THE STATE OF KARNATAKA

victim was given as a proviso to Section 372 CrPC. This proviso A
is not very happily worded. Be that as it may, the fact is that a
victim now has a right to appeal under this proviso. He can file
the appeal against the orders stated therein. [Para 8][42-E-G]
1.6 The presumption of innocence which is attached to every
accused gets fortified and strengthened when the said accused is B
acquitted by the trial court. Probably, for this reason, the law
makers felt that when the appeal is to be filed in the High Court
it should not be filed as a matter of course or as matter of right
but leave of the High Court must be obtained before the appeal
is entertained. Therefore, the High Court would at the initial stage
of deciding whether the leave is to be granted or not go into the C
merits of the case. Only if arguable points are involved, the High
Court normally grants leave to appeal. This would not only prevent
the High Court from being flooded with appeals but more
importantly would ensure that innocent persons who have already
faced the tribulation of a long drawn out criminal trial are not D
again unnecessarily dragged to the High Court.[Para 9][43-B-D]
1.7 Under Section 378 CrPC an appeal against the order of
acquittal passed by a Magistrate in respect of cognizable and non-
bailable offences lies to the Sessions Court and no leave to appeal
is required. From the Court of Magistrate it is only appeals in E
respect of offences which are non-cognizable and bailable i.e. less
serious offences which would lie to the High Court. In such cases,
leave to appeal is a pre-requisite. This was done with a view to
ensure that the persons who had faced trial for relatively lesser
offences should not have to bear the expenses of an appeal in the
High Court. The other appeals which lie to the High Court are F
appeals from the Court of Sessions. These are serious criminal
matters and relate to much graver offences. The concept of leave
to appeal was probably introduced because these cases are
decided by relatively senior Judges-Sessions Judges. Legislature
felt that in such cases also the appeals against acquittals must be G
scrutinized with greater care. [Para 10][43-E-G]
1.8 Even a complainant when he files an appeal against an
order of acquittal in a case instituted upon a complaint is required
to obtain special leave to appeal. It is true that the proviso to
H
8 SUPREME COURT REPORTS [2018] 13 S.C.R.

A Section 372 CrPC does not indicate that a victim while filing an
appeal in the High Court must file a petition for leave to appeal
before his appeal can be entertained. Though the proviso to
Section 372 CrPC does give a right to the victim to file an appeal,
this proviso cannot be read in isolation. It has to be given a
meaning which fulfills the intention of the Legislature. The proviso
B
to Section 372 CrPC does not lay down the procedure as to how,
in what manner, and within which time the appeal has to be filed.
An appeal, being a creature of the statute, it is also necessary
to prescribe the limitation and procedure for filing the appeal.
[Paras 11, 12][43-H; 44-A-C]
C 1.9 Adverting to sub-section (4) of Section 378 CrPC, if an
order of acquittal is passed on a case instituted upon a complaint
then the High Court before entertaining an appeal by the
complainant must grant special leave to appeal. The expression
“Special leave to appeal” has no different meaning than the
D expression “leave to appeal” and it appears to me that the word
“special” has been added only to distinguish “leave to appeal”
sought by the complainant from the “leave to appeal” sought by
the State. Thus, in a complaint case where the complainant has
set the wheels of the Court in motion even if the complainant
files the appeal he must obtain special leave to appeal. This again
E gives rise to an interesting question- Can the victim be placed
on a higher pedestal than the complainant? More often than not,
the victim and the complainant are likely to be one and the same
person. [Para 13][44-C-E]
1.10 In case, the proposition is accepted that the victim
F need not seek leave to appeal in case the appeal is to be filed in
the High Court there shall be another anomalous situation.
Supposing there are two victims in a case and one of the victims
files a complaint and sets the wheels of justice moving and the
case is tried as a complaint case. In case the accused is acquitted
G and the victim who is the complainant wants to file an appeal in
the High Court, he will have to seek special leave to appeal
whereas the victim who had not even approached the Court at
the initial stage will be entitled to file an appeal without seeking
leave to appeal. This could not have been the intention of the
Legislature. [Para 14][44-F-G]
H
MALLIKARJUN KODAGALI (DEAD) REP. THR. LRS. v. 9
THE STATE OF KARNATAKA

1.11 These are changes in criminal jurisprudence and the A
expanding rights of the victim, which the victim must have. At
the same time, these rights must be balanced with the rights of
the accused. It is not uncommon for individuals to file false cases.
Therefore, while interpreting the law one cannot shut one’s eyes
to the fact that a large number of false cases are filed and appeals
B
will more likely than not be filed in such cases when the acquittal
of the accused is ordered. [Paras 15, 16][44-H; 45-A-D]
Rajesh Sharma v. State of U.P. 2017 SCC Online SC
821; Dr. Subhash Kashinath Mahajan v. State of
Maharashtra (2018) 6 SCC 454 – referred to.
C
1.12 One of the bedrocks of the criminal jurisprudence is
that every person is presumed innocent unless found guilty. This
presumption of innocence gets strengthened when the person is
acquitted. Therefore, the legislature felt that before a person who
has been acquitted after a protracted trial is called to face
proceedings in the High Court in an appeal, the High Court should D
look into the matter and first decide whether there are sufficient
reasons to grant leave to file appeal or not. This is, in a manner
of speaking a preliminary hearing to decide whether the matter
is worth looking into or not. There is no reason why such scrutiny
should not be done in appeals filed by the victim. The victim E
cannot be placed on a higher pedestal than the State or the
complainant. The right of the victim to file an appeal is not taken
away or in any manner weakened only because he has to seek
leave to appeal. If Sections 378(3), 378(4) and 372 CrPC are read
together, it is clear that the victim is also required to apply
for leave to appeal before his appeal can be entertained. F
[Paras 17,18][45-D-G]
1.13 Though the victim has rights, one cannot forget that a
victim who may have suffered, may also seek revenge. Therefore,
an obligation has been cast upon the State to prosecute the
accused. In fact, even now a trial under the CrPC has to be G
conducted by the Public Prosecutor or Assistant Public
Prosecutor. No private lawyer can be engaged to conduct the
trial under Section 301(2) CrPC. A private person including the
victim, can only instruct a pleader to act on his behalf in court but
the prosecution has to be conducted either by the Public H
10 SUPREME COURT REPORTS [2018] 13 S.C.R.

A Prosecutor or Assistant Public Prosecutor and the pleader
engaged by the private person can only act as per the directions
of the Public Prosecutor or Assistant Public Prosecutor. The
reason behind this is that the victim may fabricate evidence or
hide true facts whereas the Public Prosecutor or Assistant Public
Prosecutor is expected to be fair to the court, to the accused and
B
to the victim. [Para 19][45-H; 46-A-C]
1.14 On the one hand are the rights of the victim and on
the other hand, is the well settled principle of criminal
jurisprudence that every man is presumed to be innocent till
proved guilty. Therefore, though the victim may have a right to
C file an appeal, this right of filing an appeal vested in the victim,
cannot be larger than the right of filing an appeal which inheres
in the State and the complainant in a complaint case. Therefore,
when the victim files an appeal against acquittal in the High
Court he has to seek leave to appeal under Section 378(3) CrPC.
D [Para 20][46-D-E]
Satya Pal Singh v. State of Madhya Pradesh & Ors.
(2015) 15 SCC 613 – referred to.
Case Law Reference

E (2015) 15 SCC 613 referred to Para 5
(2018) 6 SCC 454 referred to Para 16
CRIMINAL APPELLATE JURISDICTION: Criminal Appeal
Nos. 1281-1282 of 2018.
From the Judgment and Order dated 10.06.2014 of the High Court
F
of Karnataka, Circuit Bench at Dharwad in Criminal Appeal No 100016
of 2014 and Judgment and Order dated 04.07.2014 in Criminal Appeal
No 100119 of 2014
Sidharth Luthra, Sr. Adv., S. Udaya Kumar Sagar, Ms. Bina
Madhavan, Piyush Dwivedi, Anoopam N. Prasad, Ms. Mehak Jaggi,
G Anthony for M/s. Lawyer S Knit & Co, Advs. for the appellants.
A. K. Ganguli, Sr. Adv., Ms. Rajani K. Prasad, Ms. N. Annapoorani,
Joseph Aristotle S., Ms. Priya Aristotle, Ms. Payal N. Gaikwad, Gaurav
Agrawal, Nishanth Patil, Ms. Sneha R. Iyer, Rohit Prasad, Shahayar
Ali, Advs. for the respondents.
H
MALLIKARJUN KODAGALI (DEAD) REP. THR. LRS. v. 11
THE STATE OF KARNATAKA

The Judgments of the Court were delivered by A
MADAN B.LOKUR, J.
1. Leave granted.
2. The rights of victims of crime is a subject that has, unfortunately,
only drawn sporadic attention of Parliament, the judiciary and civil society.
Yet, it has made great progress over the years. It is our evolving and B
developing jurisprudence that has made this possible. But we still have a
long way to go to bring the rights of victims of crime to the centre stage
and to recognise them as human rights and an important component of
social justice and the rule of law.
3. The travails and tribulations of victims of crime begin with the C
trauma of the crime itself and, unfortunately, continue with the difficulties
they face in something as simple as the registration of a First Information
Report (FIR). The difficulties in registering an FIR have been noticed
by a Constitution Bench of this Court in Lalita Kumari v. Government
of Uttar Pradesh.1 The ordeal continues, quite frequently, in the
investigation that may not necessarily be unbiased, particularly in respect D
of crimes against women and children. Access to justice in terms of
affordability, effective legal aid and advice as well as adequate and equal
representation are also problems that the victim has to contend with and
which impact on society, the rule of law and justice delivery.
4. What follows in a trial is often secondary victimisation through E
repeated appearances in Court in a hostile or a semi-hostile environment
in the courtroom. Till sometime back, secondary victimisation was in the
form of aggressive and intimidating cross-examination, but a more humane
interpretation of the provisions of the Indian Evidence Act, 1872 has
made the trial a little less uncomfortable for the victim of an offence,
particularly the victim of a sexual crime. In this regard, the judiciary has F
been proactive in ensuring that the rights of victims are addressed, but a
lot more needs to be done. Today, the rights of an accused far outweigh
the rights of the victim of an offence in many respects. There needs to
be some balancing of the concerns and equalising their rights so that the
criminal proceedings are fair to both.2 The Courts have provided solace G
to the victim with monetary compensation, but that is not enough.3 There
1
(2014) 2 SCC 1
2
Girish Kumar Suneja v. Central Board of Investigation, (2017) 14 SCC 809
3
Hari Singh v. Sukhbir Singh, AIR 1988 SC 2127; Bodhisattwa Gautam v. Subhra
Chakroborty, AIR 1996 SC 922; Ankush Shivaji Gaikwad v. State of Maharashtra,
(2013) 6 SCC 770 H
12 SUPREME COURT REPORTS [2018] 13 S.C.R.

A are victim compensation schemes in force due to the mandate of Section
357A of the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973 (the Cr.P.C.) but even
that is not enough, though they are being implemented in several parts of
the country. We are of the view that the judiciary is obliged to go and has
gone beyond merely awarding compensation and has taken into
consideration the larger picture from the perspective of the victim of an
B
offence, relating to infrastructure in court buildings and has recommended
and implemented some recommendations such as the construction of
child friendly courts and courts that address the concerns of vulnerable
witnesses.4 The Courts have done and are continuing to do their best for
the victims of crime.
C 5. In Sakshi v. Union of India5 this Court passed significant
directions for holding incamera proceedings, providing for a screen
between the accused and the victim and placed restrictions, in a sense,
on the cross examination of witnesses. It is true that these directions
have been passed in a case relating to sexual offences but the trend of
D this Court has been to show concern for the rights of victims of an
offence and to address them.
6. Parliament also has been proactive in recognising the rights of
victims of an offence. One such recognition is through the provisions of
Chapter XXIA of the Cr.P.C. which deals with plea bargaining.
E Parliament has recognised the rights of a victim to participate in a mutually
satisfactory disposition of the case. This is a great leap forward in the
recognition of the right of a victim to participate in the proceedings of a
non-compoundable case. Similarly, Parliament has amended the Cr.P.C.
introducing the right of appeal to the victim of an offence, in certain
circumstances. The present appeals deal with this right incorporated in
F the proviso to Section 372 of the Cr.P.C.
7. In other words, a considerable amount has been achieved in
giving life to the rights of victims of crime, despite the absence of a
cohesive policy. But, as mentioned above, a lot more still needs to be
done.
G
8. Among the steps that need to be taken to provide meaningful
rights to the victims of an offence, it is necessary to seriously consider
giving a hearing to the victim while awarding the sentence to a convict.
4
Sampurna Behura v. Union of India, (2018) 4 SCC 433
5
(2004) 5 SCC 518
H
MALLIKARJUN KODAGALI (DEAD) REP. THR. LRS. v. 13
THE STATE OF KARNATAKA [MADAN B. LOKUR, J.]

A victim impact statement or a victim impact assessment must be given A
due recognition so that an appropriate punishment is awarded to the
convict. In addition, the need for psycho-social support and counselling
to a victim may also become necessary, depending upon the nature of
the offence. It is possible that in a given case the husband of a young
married woman gets killed in a fight or a violent dispute. How is the
B
young widow expected to look after herself in such circumstances, which
could be even more traumatic if she had a young child? It is true that a
victim impact statement or assessment might result in an appropriate
sentence being awarded to the convict, but that would not necessarily
result in ‘justice’ to the young widow - perhaps rehabilitation is more
important to her than merely ensuring that the criminal is awarded a life C
sentence. There is now a need, therefore, to discuss these issues in the
context of social justice and take them forward in the direction suggested
by some significant Reports that we have had occasion to look into and
the direction given by Parliament and judicial pronouncements.
9. The rights of victims, and indeed victimology, is an evolving D
jurisprudence and it is more than appropriate to move forward in a positive
direction, rather than stand still or worse, take a step backward. A voice
has been given to victims of crime by Parliament and the judiciary and
that voice needs to be heard, and if not already heard, it needs to be
raised to a higher decibel so that it is clearly heard.
E
10. With this background, we need to consider the questions that
arise before us consequent to the introduction of the proviso to Section
372 of the Cr.P.C. with effect from 31st December, 2009. The questions
are somewhat limited: Whether a ‘victim’ as defined in the Cr.P.C. has
a right of appeal in view ofthe proviso to Section 372 of the Cr.P.C.
against an order of acquittal in a case where the alleged offence took F
place prior to 31st December, 2009 but the order of acquittal was passed
by the Trial Court after 31st December, 2009? Our answer to this question
is in the affirmative. The next question is: Whether the ‘victim’ must
apply for leave to appeal against the order of acquittal? Our answer to
this question is in the negative. G
Factual narrative
11. The appellant (Kodagali – now dead but represented by his
legal representatives) was the victim of an attack on the night of 6th

H
14 SUPREME COURT REPORTS [2018] 13 S.C.R.

A February, 2009. He lodged a First Information Report with the police
and after investigations, necessary proceedingswere taken before the
District and Sessions Judge, Bagalkot against the accused persons under
several sections of the Indian Penal Code (the IPC).
12. In S.C.No.49 of 2010 the District and Sessions Judge, Bagalkot
B (Karnataka) acquitted the accused by a judgment and order dated 28th
October, 2013.
13. Aggrieved thereby, Kodagali preferred an appeal in the High
Courtbeing Criminal Appeal No. 100016 of 2014. The appeal was
preferred under the proviso to Section 372 of the Cr.P.C. but itwas
dismissed as not maintainable by a judgment and order dated 10 th June,
C 2014. It was held by the High Court that the proviso to Section 372 of
the Cr.P.C. came into the statute book with effect from 31 st December,
2009 but the incident had occurred well before that date. Therefore, the
appeal was not maintainable. Reliance was placed by the High Court
on National Commission for Womenv.State of Delhi and another6
D 14. Kodagali then preferred anotherappeal in the High Court being
Criminal Appeal No. 100119 of 2014. This appeal was filed under the
provisions of Section 378(4) of the Cr.P.C. By a judgment and order
dated 4th July, 2014 the High Court held that the appeal was not
maintainable. The view taken by the High Court was on a plain reading
E of Section 378(4) of the Cr.P.C., namely, that the appeal was not filed in
a case instituted upon a complaint before a Magistrate.
15. Under these circumstances, Kodagali is before us challenging
the judgment and orders dated 10th June, 2014 and 4th July, 2014. It is
his contention that he has been left with no remedy against the acquittal
of the accused. His submission is that one of the accused is a Member
F of the Legislative Assembly and it is for this reason that the State did not
challenge the acquittal. It is not necessary for us to go into the merits of
the controversy or the allegations made by Kodagali. Suffice it to say,
we are only concerned with the question whether the appeal filed by
Kodagali under the proviso to Section 372 of the Cr.P.C. was maintainable
G or not.
Victims of crime and their rights
16. In recent times, four Reports have dealt with the rights of
victims of crime and the remedies available to them. The first Report in
6
(2010)12 SCC 599
H
MALLIKARJUN KODAGALI (DEAD) REP. THR. LRS. v. 15
THE STATE OF KARNATAKA [MADAN B. LOKUR, J.]

this sequence is the 154th Report of the Law Commission of India of A
August 1996. While this Report did not specifically deal with the right of
a victim of crime to file an appeal, it did discuss issues of victims of
crime, compensation to be paid to the victim and rehabilitation of the
victim including the establishment of a Victim Assistance Fund.
17. The second important Report is the March 2003 Report of the B
Committee on Reforms of Criminal Justice System commonly known as
the Report of the Justice Malimath Committee. In the Chapter on
Adversarial Rights, it is recommended under the sub-heading of Victims
Right to Appeal as follows:
“2.21. The victim or his representative who is a party to the trial C
should have a right to prefer an appeal against any adverse order
passed by the trial court. In such an appeal he could challenge the
acquittal, or conviction for a lesser offence or inadequacy of
sentence, or in regard to compensation payable to the victim. The
appellate court should have the same powers as the trial court in
regard to assessment of evidence and awarding of sentence.” D
18. Thereafter, in the substantive Chapter on Justice to Victims, it
is noted that victims of crime, in many jurisdictions, have the right to
participate in the proceedings and to receive compensation for injury
suffered. It was noted as follows:
“6.3 Basically two types of rights are recognized in many E
jurisdictions particularly in continental countries in respect of victims
of crime. They are, firstly, the victim’s right to participate in criminal
proceedings (right to be impleaded, right to know, right to be heard
and right to assist the court in the pursuit of truth) and secondly,
the right to seek and receive compensation from the criminal court F
itself for injuries suffered as well as appropriate interim reliefs in
the course of proceedings.”
19. Following up on this, and extending the rights of victims of
crime, it was observed in paragraph 6.5 that “The right of the victimshould
extend to prefer an appeal against anyadverse order passed by the trial
G
court. The appellate court should have the same powers to hear appeals
against acquittal as it now has to entertain appeal against conviction.There
is no credible and fair reason why appeals against acquittals should lieonly
to the High Court.”

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16 SUPREME COURT REPORTS [2018] 13 S.C.R.

A 20. On this basis, the Justice Malimath Committee made the
following recommendation enabling the victim of a crime to prefer an
appeal. The recommendation (made in the Chapter having the same
heading) reads as follows:
“The victim shall have a right to prefer an appeal against any
B adverse order passed by the court acquitting the accused,
convicting for a lesser offence, imposing inadequate sentence, or
granting inadequate compensation. Such appeal shall lie to the
court to which an appeal ordinarily lies against the order of
conviction of such court.”
C 21. The third Report worth considering is the July 2007 Report of
the Committee on the Draft National Policy on Criminal Justice also
known as the Professor Madhava Menon Committee. While this
Committee does not specifically deal with providing a right of appeal to
the victim of a crime, it does refer to victim orientation to criminal justice
and providing for a balance between the constitutional rights of an accused
D person and a victim of crime. One of the suggestions given by the
Committee is to permit the impleadment of a victim in the trial proceedings.
Obliquely therefore, it follows that if a victim is impleaded as a party to
the trial proceedings, the victim would certainly have a right to file an
appeal against an adverse order, particularly an order of acquittal.
E 22. The fourth Report that deserves a mention is the 221st Report
of the Law Commission of India April 2009. In this Report, the
recommendation of the Law Commission of India was to the effect that
as the law stands, an aggrieved person cannot file an appeal against an
order of acquittal. However, a revision petition can be filed. The powers
F of a revisional court are limited and the process involved is cumbersome
and it also involves a wastage of money and time. It was, therefore,
recommended by the Law Commission that against an order of acquittal
passed by a Magistrate, a victim should be entitled to file an appeal
before the revisional court. It was also recommended that in complaint
cases also an appeal should be provided in the Sessions Court instead of
G the High Court. In all such cases, the aggrieved person or complainant
should have the right to prefer an appeal, though with the leave of the
Appellate Court. The view of the Law Commission was expressed in
the following words:

H
MALLIKARJUN KODAGALI (DEAD) REP. THR. LRS. v. 17
THE STATE OF KARNATAKA [MADAN B. LOKUR, J.]

“2.9 All appeals against orders of acquittal passed by Magistrates A
were being filed in High Court prior to amendment of section 378
by Act 25 of 2005. Now, with effect from 23.06.2006, appeals
against orders of acquittal passed by Magistrates in respect of
cognizable and non-bailable offences in cases filed on police report
are being filed in the Sessions Court, vide clause (a) of sub-section
B
(1) of the said section. But, appeal against order of acquittal passed
in any case instituted upon complaint continues to be filed in the
High Court, if special leave is granted by it on an application made
to it by the complainant, vide sub-section (4) of the said section.
2.10 Section 378 needs change with a view to enable filing of
appeals in complaint cases also in the Sessions Court, of course, C
subject to the grant of special leave by it.
2.11 Further, at present, against orders of acquittal passed by
Magistrates (where the offence is cognizable and non-bailable)
or by Sessions Courts, appeal in cases filed on police reports can
be filed only at the instance of the District Magistrate or the State D
Government, as the case may be, vide sub-section (1) of section
378. In such matters, the aggrieved person or the informant cannot
himself file an appeal. However, he can prefer a revision. If the
revisional Court finds that the accused has been wrongly acquitted,
it cannot convict him in view of sub-section (3) of section 401, but E
it has to remand the case. It is a cumbersome process and involves
wastage of money and time. This provision also needs a change
and in such matters also, where the District Magistrate or the
State does not direct the Public Prosecutor to prefer appeal against
an order of acquittal, the aggrieved person or the informant should
have the right to prefer appeal, though with the leave of the F
Appellate Court. This will also give an opportunity to the aggrieved
person to challenge the findings of fact recorded by lower court.
Also, this will introduce more transparency and accountability in
the lower judiciary, as at present, the percentage of acquittal is
quite high.” G
23. It is, apparently, on the basis of all these Reports and other
material that Section 372 of the Cr.P.C. was amended on 30th December,
2009 with effect from 31st December, 2009.Section 372 of the Cr.P.C.
as it stands today reads as follows:
H
18 SUPREME COURT REPORTS [2018] 13 S.C.R.

A “372. No appeal to lie unless otherwise provided. - No appeal
shall lie from any judgment or order of a Criminal Court except as
provided for by this Code or by any other law for the time being in
force:
Provided that the victim shall have a right to prefer an appeal
B against any order passed by the Court acquitting the accused or
convicting for a lesser offence or imposing inadequate
compensation, and such appeal shall lie to the Court to which an
appeal ordinarily lies against the order of conviction of such Court.”
Decision in the case of the National Commission for Women
C 24. In National Commission for Women, the victim, a young
lady aged 21 years committed suicide on or about 14th April, 2003. She
left behind a note in which she stated that the accused had physical
relations with her and held out a promise of marriage but later backed
off. He had exploited her and therefore she was committing suicide.
D 25. The Trial Judge relied on the dying declaration and convicted
the accused by his judgment and order dated 21st April, 2008. The accused
preferred an appeal in the Delhi High Court which acquitted him of an
offence under Section 306 of the IPC while maintaining his conviction
under Section 376 of the IPC. The sentence was reduced to that already
E undergone which was about five years and six months. The judgment
and order of the High Court is dated 9th February, 2009.
26. Feeling aggrieved by the decision of the High Court, the
National Commission for Women preferred apetition for special leave to
appealadmittedlyinvoking the inherent powers of this Court. In that
F context this Court held that in view of Section 372 of the Cr.P.C. no
appeal shall lie from a judgment or order by a criminal Court except as
provided by the Cr.P.C. or by any other law which authorises an appeal.
The proviso to Section 372 of the Cr.P.C. gives a limited right to the
victim to file an appeal in the High Court against any order of a criminal
Court acquitting the accused or convicting him for a lesser offence or
G the imposition of inadequate compensation. This Court then observed
as follows:
“The proviso may not thus be applicable as it came in the year
2009 (long after the present incident) and, in any case, would
confer a right only on a victim and also does not envisage an
H appeal against an inadequate sentence.”
MALLIKARJUN KODAGALI (DEAD) REP. THR. LRS. v. 19
THE STATE OF KARNATAKA [MADAN B. LOKUR, J.]

27. It was further held that an appeal being the creation of a A
statute, it would not be maintainable under any inherent power. Article
136 of the Constitution does confer discretionary power on this Court to
entertain a petition at the behest of the State or an affected private
individual but to permit anybody or an organisation pro bono publico to
file an appeal would be a dangerous doctrine and would cause utter
B
confusion in the criminal justice system. On this basis it was held that
the special leave petition filed by theNational Commission for Women
was not maintainable.
28. The thrust of the decision of this Court, which appears to
have been misunderstood by the High Court, is with regard to entertaining
a petition under Article 136 of the Constitution by a third party. As far as C
criminal matters are concerned, this Court undoubtedly held that permitting
a third party to prefer a petition under Article 136 of the Constitution
would be dangerous and would cause confusion. The reasoning of this
Court was not directed towards the proviso to Section 372 of the Cr.P.C.
It is only in passing that this Court observed that on the facts of the case, D
the proviso to Section 372 of the Cr.P.C. might not be applicable since it
came into the statute book after the incident.
29. The decision of this Court in National Commission for Women
is quite clearly distinguishable and reliance on this decision by the High
Court is inapposite. E
Decisions of the Full Bench
30. The interpretation of the proviso to Section 372 of the Cr.P.C.
has been considered in Full Bench decisions rendered by a few High
Courts.
F
31. Among the first few Full Bench decisions that addressed this
issue was the judgment of the Gujarat High Court in Bhavuben
Dineshbhai Makwana v. State of Gujarat & Ors.7 The questions
framed for consideration in this case were:
(i) Whether an appeal filed by the victim, invoking his right under
G
proviso to Sec. 372 of Cr.P.C, challenging acquittal, or conviction
for a lesser offence, or awarding inadequate compensation, is not
maintainable, on the ground that the State has filed an appeal
against the same order and for the same purpose?
7
MANU/GJ/1137/2012 - Criminal Appeal No. 238 of 2012, decided on 23 rd October,
2012 H
20 SUPREME COURT REPORTS [2018] 13 S.C.R.

A (ii) Whether an appeal filed by the State should not be entertained,
on the ground that the appeal preferred by the victim invoking his
right under proviso to Sec. 372 of Cr.P.C., against the same order,
is admitted by the Court?
(iii) If the victim prefers an appeal before this Court, challenging
B the acquittal, invoking his right under proviso to Sec. 372 of Cr.P.C.,
whether that appellant is required to first seek leave of the Court,
as is required in case of appeal being preferred by the State?
32. While discussing these issues, the Full Bench observed that
the Legislature had conferred a substantive statutory right of appeal and
C such a right could not be diluted by a judicial pronouncement since the
right of a party to file an appeal is an independent, substantial and statutory
right.
33. Analysing the proviso to Section372 of the Cr.P.C. and
juxtaposing it with Section 377 of the Cr.P.C. the Full Bench noted that
D the victim has no right to prefer an appeal against “inadequacy of
sentence”, a right available only to the State and the State does not have
any right to file any appeal against “inadequacy of compensation”, a
right available only to a victim. Noting the availability of different rights,
it was held:

E “In light of different types of right of appeal provided to the victim
and to the State/Prosecution, it will not be proper to hold that the
right of either of them is dependent upon the other. To put it
differently, only victim can file an appeal against an order of
imposing ‘inadequate compensation’ in addition to his right of appeal
against acquittal and convicting the accused for a lesser offence
F and therefore, to club his right and make it dependent upon the
exercise of right of appeal at the instance of the State would be
not only be unworkable, but would run contrary to the scheme
and lead to absurdity.”
34. The Full Bench then concluded that the correct position in law
G would be that the right to file an appeal by the victim of an offence is an
independent and statutory right not subservient to the rights of the State
to file an appeal. It was further concluded that each victim has an
independent right of appeal and in a given case, the grievance of different
victims may be completely different. It was held as follows:
H
MALLIKARJUN KODAGALI (DEAD) REP. THR. LRS. v. 21
THE STATE OF KARNATAKA [MADAN B. LOKUR, J.]

“In our opinion, the correct law, as emerging from the scheme of A
the Code, would be that the right of a victim to prefer an appeal
(on limited grounds enumerated in proviso to Sec. 372 of the Code)
is a separate and independent statutory right and is not dependent
either upon or is subservient to right of appeal of the State. In
other words, both the victim and the State/prosecution can file
B
appeals independently without being dependent on the exercise
of the right by the other. Moreover, from the act or omission for
which the accused has been charged, there may be more than
one victim and the loss suffered by the victims may vary from
one victim to the other victims. Therefore, each of such victims
will have separate right of appeal and in such appeals, the grievance C
of each of the appellant may be different. For instance, in an act
of arson when a joint property of different persons has been set
on fire, the loss suffered by each of the co-sharers may be
different. In such a case, each co-sharer has a separate right of
appeal and such right of one does not depend even on the filing of
D
such appeal by another victim.”
35. The first two questions were accordingly answered by the
Gujarat High Court by holding that the appeals filed by the victim were
maintainable.
36. On the third question, the Full Bench noted that if the victim E
restricts the appeal to the grievance to inadequacy of the compensation
or punishment for a lesser offence, it does not become an appeal against
acquittal but the appeal is really directed against “any other sentence or
order not being an order of acquittal” within the meaning of Art. 115(b)
of the Limitation Act, 1963 and thus, no question of taking special leave
arises. The Full Bench took the view that for the purposes of Section F
378(4) of the Cr.P.C. a victim who is not a complainant will not come
within the purview of that section and would not be required to take
recourse to the provision of special leave as provided therein. It was
held:
“Therefore, in the case before us, the legislature while conferring G
the right of appeal upon the victim, who is not a complainant, not
having imposed any condition of taking leave or special leave, we
cannot infer such condition and impose the same upon the victim,
although, the legislature was quite conscious of existence of such
H
22 SUPREME COURT REPORTS [2018] 13 S.C.R.

A provision in case of an appeal by a complainant and has retained
that provision without consequential amendment thereby making
its intention clear that the provision of special leave is not applicable
to an appeal preferred by a victim against acquittal if he is not the
complainant.”
B The third question was then answered in the following words:
“If the victim also happens to be the complainant and the appeal
is against acquittal, he is required to take leave as provided in
Sec. 378 of the Criminal Procedure Code but if he is not the
complainant, he is not required to apply for or obtain any leave.
C For the appeal against inadequacy of compensation or punishment
on a lesser offence, no leave is necessary at the instance of a
victim, whether he is the complainant or not.”
37. In our opinion, the Gujarat High Court made an artificial and
unnecessary distinction between a victim as a victim and a victim as a
D complainant in respect of filing an appeal against an order of acquittal.
The proviso to Section 372 of the Cr.P.C. does not introduce or incorporate
any such distinction.
38. The next significant decision has been rendered by the Division
Bench of the Calcutta High Court in Mahafuja Banu v. Md. Asadul
E Islam & State.8 In this case, the prosecutrix lodged a complaint on 13 th
December, 2003 and the judgment and order of acquittal was delivered
by the Trial Court on 22nd December, 2009. An appeal to the High Court
was (presumably) filed only after 31st December, 2009. While considering
the maintainability of the appeal, the High Court referred to the decision
of the Gujarat High Court in BhavubenDineshbhai Makwana.
F
39. Reference was also made to a Division Bench decision of the
Agartala Bench of the Gauhati High Court in Gouranga Debnaih v.
State of Tripura.9 In that case the alleged offence took place on 14th
November, 2006 and the judgment of acquittal was delivered on 30 th
September, 2010. The High Court held that the appeal against acquittal
G filed by the victim was maintainable. It was held that if the interpretation
given to the proviso to Section 372 of the Cr.P.C. is that the right to
appeal accrued on the date of the incident, then it would unreasonable

8
(2013) 1 Cal LT 109
9
2011 (4) GLT 379
H
MALLIKARJUN KODAGALI (DEAD) REP. THR. LRS. v. 23
THE STATE OF KARNATAKA [MADAN B. LOKUR, J.]

and unfair, more so since the proviso to Section 372 of the Cr.P.C. is A
given prospective effect.
40. Reference was also made to a decision by a learned Single
Judge decision of the Kerala High Court in T. Balakrishnan Master v.
K.M. Ramachandran Master.10 In that case it was held that the proviso
to Section 372 of the Cr.P.C. confers on the victim a substantive right to B
prefer an appeal in certain circumstances. The right is dependent on the
judgment rendered by the Court and not in relation to the incident that
gave rise to the prosecution.
41. The Calcutta High Court also considered the question whether
there is finality attached to the judgment of acquittal and whether that
finality could be disturbed on the basis of a right subsequently conferred C
on the victim. It was held that the judgment of acquittal had not attained
finality in that the victim had a right to file a revision petition and the
State had the right to file an appeal. All that the proviso to Section 372 of
the Cr.P.C. had done was to replace the right of a revision with the right
to appeal. D
42. While it is true that there is a qualitative difference between a
revision and an appeal, the Calcutta High Court drew attention to the
221st Report of 30th April, 2009 of the Law Commission. This Report
noted the distinction and observed that the revision process was
cumbersome and involved a wastage of time and money. It was, therefore, E
recommended by the Law Commission that the aggrieved person should
have the right to prefer an appeal, though with the leave of the Appellate
Court. This would also give the aggrieved person an opportunity to
challenge the findings of fact recorded by the Trial Court.
43. On the basis of the above decisions and the reasons given, the
Calcutta High Court concluded that there was nothing to suggest that F
the victim could exercise the right to appeal under the proviso to Section
372 of the Cr.P.C. only if it existed on the date of the “cause of action”
(the alleged offence or incident) or the date onwhich the complaint was
lodged.
44. After a short hiatusheight, this issue again came up for G
consideration and this time before the Full Bench of the Punjab and
Haryana High Court in Tata Steel v. Atma Tube Products Ltd.11 The
10
Crl. M.A. No. 7423 of 2011, decided on 22nd September, 2011 - MANU/KE/1620/
2011
11
(2014) 173 (1) PLR 1 H
24 SUPREME COURT REPORTS [2018] 13 S.C.R.

A decision is much more than elaborate and onlytwo of the seven questions
framed for consideration are relevant for the present discussion. Thesetwo
questions are:
(1) Whether the ‘rights’ of a victim under the amended Cr. P.C.
are accessory and auxiliary to those perceived to be the exclusive
B domain of the ‘State’?
(2) Whether proviso to Section 372 CrPC inserted w.e.f. December
31, 2009 is prospective or retrospective in nature and whether a
revision petition pending against an order of acquittal before the
insertion of the said proviso, can be converted into an appeal and
C transferred to the Court of competent jurisdiction?
45. In answering the first question, the High Court noted that the
scheme of the Cr.P.C. provides, after various amendments, the right of
appeal to the accused; the State; the victim and the complainant in
complaint cases. It was observed that if a victim also happens to be the
D complainant in a police case, then that victim is not required to take
leave under Section 378 of the Cr.P.C. to file an appeal against an order
of acquittal. To this extent, the Full Bench of the Punjab and Haryana
High Court differed with the view taken by the Full Bench of the Gujarat
High Court in Bhavuben Dineshbhai Makwana.

E 46. The reasons for disagreement stem from the fact that the
Legislature was aware of the provisions of the existing statute including
the fetter imposed on the State in filing an appeal against an order of
acquittal. However, that fetter was not placed on the right to appeal
given to a victim under the proviso to Section 372 of the Cr.P.C. The
view of the Full Bench of the Punjab and Haryana High Court was that
F if such fetter were to be placed on the right of the victim, it would amount
to rewriting the proviso to Section 372 of the Cr.P.C. and would also
defeat the legislative will. The Punjab and Haryana High Court expressed
it’s opinion in the following words:
“The Court shall always presume that while amending or bringing
G a new enactment, the Legislature was fully aware of the provisions
of the existing Statute. The Parliament had thus full knowledge of
the fetters imposed by it on the presentation of appeals by the
State or a complaint through Section 378(3) & (4) of the Code,
yet it gave the right to appeal to a ‘victim’ free from any obstacle
H
MALLIKARJUN KODAGALI (DEAD) REP. THR. LRS. v. 25
THE STATE OF KARNATAKA [MADAN B. LOKUR, J.]

under proviso to Section 372 of the Code. The legislative policy to A
grant unconditional right to appeal to a ‘victim’ is thus writ large.
It would indeed not only amount to re-writing the proviso to Section
372 but would also defeat the legislative will if the restrictions
expressly embedded in Section 378(3) & (4) are impliedly planted
into proviso to Section 372 of the Code also. Since leave to appeal
B
under Section 378(3) is confined only to such appeals which are
presented by the State or Central Governments under sub-Section
(1)(b) or sub-Section (2)(b) of Section 378 of the Code, with due
regard at our command, we are unable to agree with the view
taken by the Division Bench of this Court in Smt. Ram Kaur’s
case (supra)12 that a ‘victim’ shall be required to seek leave/special C
leave to appeal while exercising his/her right to appeal under
proviso to Section 372 of the Code and overrule the same to that
extent. On the same analogy, we express our inability to agree
with the view taken by the Patna High Court in Guru Prasad
Yadav’s case (supra).13
D
The cumulative effect of the above discussion is that the right(s)
of a ‘victim’ under the amended Code are substantive and not
mere brutamfulmen hence these are not accessory or auxiliary
to those of the State and are totally incomparable as both the sets
of rights or duties operate in different and their respective fields.
We thus hold that a ‘victim’ is not obligated to seek ‘leave’ or E
‘special leave’ of the High Court for presentation of appeal under
proviso to Section 372 of the Code.”
47. With regard to the second question, the High Court concluded
that the right to appeal is a substantive right. Consequently, the inescapable
conclusion would be that the right to appeal given to a victim would be F
prospective and enforceable with effect from 31st December, 2009 only.
This would be irrespective of the date of registration of the FIR or the
date of the occurrence. The High Court held as follows:
“Since right to appeal is a substantive right and it cannot be inferred
by implication unless the Statute expressly provides so, the only G
inescapable conclusion would be to hold that the right to appeal

12
Smt. Ram Kaur @ Jaswinder Kaur v. Jagbir Singh alias Jabi and others, MANU/PH/
4500/2010 decided on 1 st April, 2010
13
Guru Prasad Yadav v. State of Bihar, Criminal Appeal No. 582 of 2011
H
26 SUPREME COURT REPORTS [2018] 13 S.C.R.

A given to a ‘victim’ under proviso to Section 372 of the Code is
prospective and has become enforceable w.e.f. December 31,
2009 only. A ‘victim’ is entitled to prefer appeal in respect of any
type of order referred to in the proviso to Section 372 if such
order has been passed on or after December 31, 2009 irrespective
of the date of registration of FIR or the date of occurrence etc.
B
To be more specific, it is clarified that it is the date of passing of
the order to be appealed from and not any other fact situation,
which shall determine the right to appeal of a ‘victim’. As a
corollary thereto, it is held that the remedy availed by a ‘victim’
including revision petition against acquittal of the accused by an
C order passed before December 31, 2009, cannot be converted
into an appeal under proviso to Section 372 and it shall have to be
dealt with in accordance with the parameters settled for exercising
revisional jurisdiction by a superior Court.”
48. The Full Bench of the Delhi High Court also considered this
D issue in Ram Phal v. State &Ors.14 The question considered by the
Delhi High Court was:
“Whether the appellate remedy [under the proviso to Section 372
of the Cr.P.C.] is available with respect to only such offences
which were committed as on the date when the appellate right
was conferred by law or the appellate right would be available
E with respect to the date of the decision or the appellate remedy is
without any reference to the two points of time i.e. the date when
the offence was committed or when the appellate right was
conferred by law, (Act No.5 of 2009 with effect from
31.12.2009).”
F 49. While answering the question, the Delhi High Court referred
to Tata Steeldecided by the Punjab & Haryana High Court. The Delhi
High Court referred to the conclusion that a victim “is entitled to prefer
appeal in respect of any type of order referred to in the proviso to Section
372 if such order has been passed on or after December 31, 2009
irrespective of the date of registration of FIR or the date of occurrence
G
etc.”
50. Reference was also made to the Division Bench of the Patna
High Court in Parmeshwar Mandal v. State of Bihar15 and parts of
14
2015 (151) DRJ 562
15
H 2014 (1) PLJR 377
MALLIKARJUN KODAGALI (DEAD) REP. THR. LRS. v. 27
THE STATE OF KARNATAKA [MADAN B. LOKUR, J.]

the following passages were referred to and relied upon. It was said in A
Parmeshwar Mandal:
“Proviso to Section 372 of the Code is in two parts. First clause of
the said proviso begins with ‘provided that’ and ends with
‘Inadequate compensation’ and creates a right in the victim to
prefer appeal against any order passed by a court either (i) B
acquitting the accused or (ii) convicting for a lesser offence or
(iii) imposing inadequate compensation. Thereafter, by inserting
conjunction ‘and’, another clause has been added in the same
sentence by which forum for preferring such appeal has been
identified, which relates to procedural part of law. Thus, the said
proviso contains both substantive part, creating right in the victim C
to prefer an appeal, and procedural part, by identifying the forum
for filing such an appeal. It is not in dispute that the substantive
part of law operates prospectively, unless made retrospective, and
the procedural part is presumed to be retrospective within its
defined limits. D
xxx xxx xxx xxx
………The Central Government, by Notification No. S.O.
3313(E)dated 30th December, 2009, appointed 31st day of
December 2009, as the date for the Act. 5 of 2009 to come into
force, which was published in Gazette of India, Ext., Pt.II, S.3(ii), E
dated 30-12-2009. Hence, in absence of any express intention
notified by the Legislature to the contrary, it has to be concluded
that the right of victim, to prefer an appeal in terms of said proviso
to Section 372, became available to the victim(s) of all cases in
which orders were passed by any criminal court acquitting the F
accused or convicting him for a lesser offence or imposing
inadequate compensation, on or after 31st of December, 2009. In
other words, date of judgment of a criminal court has to be
necessarily treated as the relevant date for applying the test of
maintainability of appeal by the victim under three contingencies
laid down under the proviso to Section 372 of the Code, irrespective G
of the date of occurrence, institution of the case, cognizance or
commitment.”
51. The Delhi High Court held that in light of the settled law as
explained above, it was in respectful agreement with these decisions.
H
28 SUPREME COURT REPORTS [2018] 13 S.C.R.

A 52. The Full Bench of the Rajasthan High Court in Baldev Sharma
v. Gopal &Ors 16 considered (amongst others) the following two
questions:
(i) Whether the proviso to Section 372 as introduced by the
amending Act No. 5 of 2009 which has been brought into effect
B on 31.12.2009 can be given effect to in cases where the offence
occurred prior to 31.12.2009 and thereby given the right of appeal
to the victim in the event; (a) whether the court below has acquitted
the accused or (b) has convicted the accused for a lesser offence
or (c) has imposed inadequate compensation. Though the judgment
in such cases may have been passed by the court below after
C 31.12.2009.
(ii) Whether the appeal by the victim under proviso to Section 372
is also required to be dealt with in the same manner as an appeal
filed by the State under Section 378 Cr.P.C. and the provisions of
Section 378 are required to be read into the provisions of Section
D 372 Cr.P.C. with regard to appeals filed by the victims.
53. It was held, relying upon the same passages in Tata Steel and
Parmeshwar Mandal that “judgments passed on or after the said date
[31st December, 2009] are the ones in respect whereto, irrespective of
the date of the offence, the victim can avail the right to file an application
E seeking leave to appeal.”
Division Bench decisions
54. Among the first few decisions rendered by the Division Bench
of the High Court was the judgment and order passed by the Division
F Bench of the Gauhati High Court in GourangaDebnaih. In this case,
the alleged incident took place on 14th November, 2006 and the judgment
and order of acquittal was passed by the Trial Court on 30th September,
2010. On the question of the maintainability of the appeal under the
proviso to Section 372 of the Cr.P.C. the Division Bench framed the
following question for consideration: “Whether he [the victim] has any
G right to prefer an appeal against the impugned judgment and order of
acquittal taking the benefit of proviso to Section 372 of the Code which
has been inserted by way of amendment giving effect and if so, the
present condonation petition is maintainable?”

16
2017 (3) RLW 2604 (Raj.)
H
MALLIKARJUN KODAGALI (DEAD) REP. THR. LRS. v. 29
THE STATE OF KARNATAKA [MADAN B. LOKUR, J.]

55. In answering this question, the Gauhati High Court expressed A
the view that has already been adverted to above and need not be repeated
here. This is what the High Court had to say:
“Now question is whether an appeal can be preferred for an
incident that happened prior to giving effect of the amendment of
the Code. There is no doubt that if a Court considers that from B
the date of incident, the right to appeal accrued, then obviously
that would be unreasonable and unfair, more so, when the
amendment is given prospective effect and that would also go
against the law of limitation as prescribed under Article 114 of the
Limitation Act. In this case it is not necessary for us to discuss
even that aspect, as right to appeal of the petitioner accrued only C
after the decision in the sessions case by the trial Court i.e. the
date on which the judgment was delivered i.e. on 30.9.2010.”
56. In ParmeshwarMandal an appeal was filed by a victim in
the High Court against a judgment and order of acquittal dated 28th
August, 2012. The Division Bench of the High Court sought assistance D
on the maintainability of the appeal. After hearing arguments, the Court
noted the distinction in the language of Section 372 of the Cr.P.C. and
the language of Sections 377 and 378 of the Cr.P.C. The High Court
noted that Section 372 of the Cr.P.C. was framed in affirmative terms.
Moreover, the use of the word ‘shall’ in the proviso to Section 372 of the E
Cr.P.C., in contradistinction to the use of the word ‘may’ in Sections 377
and 378 of the Cr.P.C. gives a clear indication that the right of a victim to
file an appeal was placed on a higher pedestal than the rights of the
State, or even the accused. This is what the High Court had to say in this
regard:
F
“What is significant to notice is that this right to appeal, which is
clearly in affirmative terms, has been given to the victim by inserting
the said proviso in Section 372 itself, which is the opening section
of the Chapter, and not by any insertion in Sections 377 or 378,
which deal with appeals against inadequate sentence and acquittal.
In contradistinction to wordings of Sections 377 and 378, which G
are apparently enabling provisions, and only give a liberty to the
District Magistrate, State Government, the Central Government,
and the complainant, to prefer an appeal by use of the word ‘may’,
a victim, under the said proviso to Section 372 has been given a
H
30 SUPREME COURT REPORTS [2018] 13 S.C.R.

A right to prefer appeal by use of the expression ‘shall have a right
to appeal’. It is also significant to notice that, whereas in Section
378, grant of leave has been made a condition precedent for
entertaining any appeal against acquittal preferred under sub-
sections (1) and (2), and grant of special leave for entertaining an
appeal by a complainant preferred under sub-section (4), there is
B
no such qualification prescribed in the said proviso to section 372
for a victim to maintain his appeal against an order of acquittal, or
against a conviction for a lesser offence or against imposition of
inadequate compensation……. Hence, in the opinion of this Court,
the Legislature, by a conscious act, has put the right of a victim to
C prefer an appeal under the Code, in terms of the said proviso to
Section 372, at a much higher pedestal than the right of a
prosecuting agency or a complainant to present an appeal. Any
otherwise intention of the Legislature is ruled out from the fact
that, had it been so, it would have inserted a new sub-section in
Sections 377 or 378, putting his right, with limitations and
D
qualifications, at par with that of the prosecuting agency or the
complainant, instead of inserting this right of victim in the opening
section of the chapter itself.”
57. Thereafter, the High Court gave its reasons and conclusion
for holding that the date of judgment of a criminal court has to be
E necessarily treated as the relevant date for applying the test of
maintainability of appeal by the victim under three contingencies laid
down under the proviso to Section 372 of the Cr.P.C. irrespective of the
date of occurrence, institution of the case, cognizance or commitment.
The Delhi High Court had referred to the relevant passages of the
F judgment of the Patna High Court and we have extracted these passages
above and they need not be repeated here.
58. The Division Bench of the Kerala High Court dealt with this
issue in Vanaja K.C. v. State of Kerala &Ors.17 In this case the alleged
offence or incident took place on 27th January, 2005 and the judgment of
G acquittal by the Trial Court was rendered on 24th February, 2010. The
question considered by the High Court was:
“Whether the victim gets a right of appeal under the proviso to
Section 372 Cr.P.C. in a case where the date of occurrence was
17
ILR 2016 (2) Kerala 713
H
MALLIKARJUN KODAGALI (DEAD) REP. THR. LRS. v. 31
THE STATE OF KARNATAKA [MADAN B. LOKUR, J.]

before and the judgment was pronounced after the date of A
commencement of Act 5 of 2009?”
59. The Division Bench relied upon an earlier decision of the High
Court in Balakrishnan Master which referred to the letter and spirit of
the law. The following passage from the decision of the Kerala High
Court is instructive: B
“The question is whether the right of appeal conferred on the
victim by the proviso to Section 372 of the Code, has to be
determined with regard to the date of order of acquittal or
conviction of the accused for a lesser offence or order providing
inadequate compensation, or, with respect to the date of incident C
giving rise to the prosecution of the accused. What is conferred
by the Amendment Act 5 of 2009 on the victim is a substantive
right to prefer an appeal in certain circumstances as specified,
and that alone. Act 5 of 2009 has come into effect from 31.12.2009.
Such right is available to a victim where a judgment is rendered
by the court on or after 31.12.2009, provided, any one of the three D
circumstances covered by the proviso is involved in the case. The
right is dependent on the judgment rendered by the court and not
in relation to the incident which gave rise to the prosecution of the
accused, whether or not it was at the instance of the victim…...
Where there is no doubt that what is conferred under the proviso E
to Section 372 of the Code enabling the victim to prefer an appeal
in the circumstances specified is a substantive right conferred on
him by the Statute its effect cannot be nullified taking a view that
the applicability of the proviso inserted has to be reckoned with
reference to the date of incident in the case which led to the
prosecution of the accused. Any such view would be against the F
letter and spirit of the aforesaid proviso and also the very purpose
for which a right of appeal is conferred on the victim, illustrating
and defining the person falling thereunder, and specifically limiting
to what situation such a right could be exercised.”
60. Reference was also made to Parmeshwar Mandal wherein G
it was held that the intention of the Legislature was not to vest the right
of appeal in only those victims in whose cases the occurrence was after
the amendment to the Cr.P.C. If that proposition were to be accepted,
then for years to come, the right of the victim to prefer an appeal in
H
32 SUPREME COURT REPORTS [2018] 13 S.C.R.

A terms of the proviso would remain illusory (given the delay in disposal of
cases).
61. On the basis of these decisions it was held that the appeal
filed by the victim would be maintainable since the judgment of acquittal
passed by the Trial Court was post 31st December, 2009.
B 62. There are decisions rendered by learned Single Judges of a
few High Courts, but it is not necessary to further burden this judgment
with an analysis of those decisions (we have referred to one of them).
Suffice it to say that the decisions have more or less followed the reasons
and conclusions arrived at in the Full Bench decisions rendered by different
C High Courts.
63. Broadly speaking, in the above cases, the view expressed by
the High Courts is that if the judgment of the Trial Court is delivered
after the proviso came into force, that is, after 31st December, 2009
then, irrespective of the date of the offence, the victim can avail a right
D of appeal. In some of the decisions it has been held that the right of
appeal is not an absolute right conferred on the victim, but it is subject to
an application seeking special leave to appeal.
Dissenting decisions
64. In D. Sudhakar v. Panapu Sreenivasulu @ Evone Water
E Sreenivasulu and Ors.18 the Andhra Pradesh High Court dismissed an
appeal filed by the victim of an offence against an order of acquittal
dated 30th November, 2011 on the ground that it was not maintainable.
The High Court relied upon the observation made by this Court inNational
Commission for Women for this conclusion. Reference was also made,
F incidentally, to a decision of the learned Single Judge of theKerala High
Court in John v. Shibu Cherian19 which also held to the same effect.
65. A similar view was expressed by the Division Bench of the
Chhattisgarh High Court in Bhisam Prasad Bareth v. Dinesh Mahant
&Ors.20 relying upon the decision of this Court in National Commission
for Women. It may be mentioned here that the appeal filed in the
G
Chhattisgarh High Court was against an order of acquittal passed on
18th March, 2009 in respect of an incident that occurred on 5th March,

18
MANU/AP/1172/2012 decided on 7 th December, 2012
19
MANU/KE/1839/2011 decided on 5th August, 2011
20
H MANU/CG/0079/2012 decided on 15th March, 2012
MALLIKARJUN KODAGALI (DEAD) REP. THR. LRS. v. 33
THE STATE OF KARNATAKA [MADAN B. LOKUR, J.]

2008both dates being well before the insertion of the proviso to Section A
372 of the Cr.P.C.
66. In the dissenting set ofdecisions, the view taken by the High
Courtsis to the effect that if the incident or the offence occurred prior to
31st December, 2009 the victim cannot file an appeal under the provisoto
Section 372 of the Cr.P.C. regardless of the date of decision of the Trial B
Court.
67. An analysis of the decisions rendered by various High Courts
indicates that the overwhelming view is that the date of the judgment
and order passed by the Trial Court is the relevant date for determining
the applicability of the proviso to Section 372 of the Cr.P.C. and if, as in C
the present case, the judgment and order is post 31st December, 2009
then the victim can prefer an appeal to the High Court.
Another view expressed by this Court
68. In Satya Pal Singhv.State of Madhya Pradesh &Ors.21 this
Courtgave what appears to be a rather expansive interpretation to the D
proviso to Section 372 of the Cr.P.C. and concluded as follows:
“This Court is of the view that the right of questioning the
correctness of the judgment and order of acquittal by preferring
an appeal to the High Court is conferred upon the victim including
the legal heir and others, as defined under Section 2(wa) E
Cr.P.C.under the proviso to Section 372, but only after obtaining
the leave of the High Court as required under sub-section (3) of
Section 378 Cr.P.C.”
69. In this case the offence occurred on or about 19th July, 2010
and the decision of the Trial Court was delivered on 13 th June, 2013.On F
a plain reading of the cited passage, it does appear that the date of the
alleged offence and the judgment and order of the Trial Court is not
relevant, meaning thereby that even if the offence was committed prior
to 31st December, 2009 and the judgment and order was rendered prior
to 31st December, 2009 the victim could prefer an appeal to the High
G
Court after obtaining leave. This is not so, and therefore the
misunderstanding of the expansive nature of the view expressed.
70. The two decisions of this Court mentioned above arise in two
different fact situations. In National Commission for Women the offence
21
(2015) 15 SCC 613 H
34 SUPREME COURT REPORTS [2018] 13 S.C.R.

A and the judgment of the Trial Court were before 31st December, 2009.
In Satya Pal Singh, the offence and the judgment of the Trial Court
were after 31st December, 2009. None of these situations arise in the
present appeals in which the offence was said to have been committed
before 31st December, 2009 while the judgment of the Trial Court was
delivered after 31st December, 2009.We are concerned in these appeals
B
only with the maintainability of an appeal by the victim under the proviso
to Section 372 of the Cr.P.C. where the alleged offence was committed
before 31st December, 2009 and the judgment and order has been
delivered by the Trial Court post 31st December, 2009. Therefore, none
of the two decisions of this Court are of any real assistance to us.
C Our conclusions
71. It was submitted by learned counsel for the accused that the
right to file an appeal is a substantive right and it should not be easily
recognized unless specifically conferred by statute. We agree. There is
no doubt that from the time of the Constitution Bench decision of this
D Court in Garikapati Veerayav. N. Subbiah Choudhry22 it has been
held that the right to appeal is not a mere matter of procedure but is a
substantive right. We are bound by this decision as well as other decisions
following this view. The question is whether this substantive statutory
right has been conferred on the victim in a case such as the present.
E 72. It was also submitted by learned counsel for the accused that
in the present fact situation, if we were to hold that Kodagali was entitled
to file an appeal against the acquittal of the accused, then we would be
giving retrospective effect to the proviso to Section 372 of the Cr.P.C. It
was submitted that if Parliament intended to confer a statutory right of
F appeal on a victim with retrospective effect, it would have specifically
said so. Since the proviso to Section 372 of the Cr.P.C. was not specifically
given retrospective effect, it must operate prospectively and the crucial
date in a case such as the present would be the date of the alleged
offence.

G 73. To counteract this, it was submitted by learned counsel for
Kodagali that the view expressed by this Court in National Commission
for Women was only anobiter and is not binding upon this Court. It is
not necessary for us to go into this aspect of the matter since we are of
the view that the decision rendered in National Commission for Women
22
1957 SCR 488
H
MALLIKARJUN KODAGALI (DEAD) REP. THR. LRS. v. 35
THE STATE OF KARNATAKA [MADAN B. LOKUR, J.]

has been misunderstood and misinterpreted and is clearly distinguishable A
on facts. Even otherwise, the decision has been rendered by a Bench of
the two learned judges and while the view expressed therein certainly
has great persuasive value but it would not be binding on a Bench of
three Judges. Besides, the obiterdicta of this Court would not bind us.
74. What is significant is that several High Courts have taken a B
consistent view to the effect that the victim of an offence has a right of
appeal under the proviso to Section 372 of the Cr.P.C. This view is in
consonance with the plain language of the proviso. But what is more
important is that several High Courts have also taken the view that the
date of the alleged offence has no relevance to the right of appeal. It has
been held, and we have referred to those decisions above, that the C
significant date is the date of the order of acquittal passed by the Trial
Court. In a sense, the cause of action arises in favour of the victim of an
offence only when an order of acquittal is passed and if that happens
after 31st December, 2009 the victim has a right to challenge the acquittal,
through an appeal. Indeed, the right not only extends to challenging the D
order of acquittal but also challenging the conviction of the accused for
a lesser offence or imposing inadequate compensation. The language of
the proviso is quite explicit, and we should not read nuances that do not
exist in the proviso.
75. In our opinion, the proviso to Section 372 of the Cr.P.C. must E
also be given a meaning that is realistic,liberal, progressive and beneficial
to the victim of an offence. There is a historical reason for this, beginning
with the Declaration of Basic Principles of Justice for Victims of Crime
and Abuse of Power, adopted by the General Assembly of the United
Nations in the 96th Plenary Session on 29th November, 1985. The
Declaration is sometimes referred to as the Magna Carta of the rights F
of victims. One of the significant declarations made was in relation to
access to justice for the victim of an offence through the justice delivery
mechanisms, both formal and informal. In the Declaration it was stated
as follows:
“4. Victims should be treated with compassion and respect for G
their dignity.They are entitled to access to the mechanisms of
justice and to promptredress, as provided for by national legislation,
for the harm that they havesuffered.

H
36 SUPREME COURT REPORTS [2018] 13 S.C.R.

A 5. Judicial and administrative mechanisms should be established
andstrengthened where necessary to enable victims to obtain
redress throughformal or informal procedures that are expeditious,
fair, inexpensive andaccessible. Victims should be informed of
their rights in seeking redressthrough such mechanisms.
B 6. The responsiveness of judicial and administrative processes
tothe needsof victims should be facilitated by:
(a) Informing victims of their role and the scope, timing and
progressof the proceedings and of the disposition of their cases,
especially whereserious crimes are involved and where they have
C requested such information;
(b) Allowing the views and concerns of victims to be
presentedandconsidered at appropriate stages of the proceedings
where their personalinterests are affected, without prejudice to
the accused and consistent withthe relevant national criminal justice
D system;
(c) Providing proper assistance to victims throughout the legal
process;
(d) Taking measures to minimize inconvenience to victims,
protect theirprivacy, when necessary, and ensure their safety, as
E well as that of theirfamilies and witnesses on their behalf, from
intimidation and retaliation;
(e) Avoiding unnecessary delay in the disposition of cases and
theexecution of orders or decrees granting awards to victims.
7. Informal mechanisms for the resolution of disputes, including
F
mediation,arbitration and customary justice or indigenous practices,
should be utilizedwhere appropriate to facilitate conciliation and
redress for victims.”
76. Putting the Declaration to practice, it is quite obvious that the
victim of an offence is entitled to a variety of rights. Access to
G mechanisms of justice and redress through formal procedures as provided
for in national legislation, must include the right to file an appeal against
an order of acquittal in a case such as the one that we are presently
concerned with. Considered in this light, there is no doubt that the proviso
to Section 372 of the Cr.P.C. must be given life, to benefit the victim of
H an offence.
MALLIKARJUN KODAGALI (DEAD) REP. THR. LRS. v. 37
THE STATE OF KARNATAKA

77. Under the circumstances, on the basis of the plain language A
of the law and also as interpreted by several High Courts and in addition
the resolution of the General Assembly of the United Nations, it is quite
clear to us that a victim as defined in Section 2(wa) of the Cr.P.C. would
be entitled to file an appeal before the Courtto which an appeal ordinarily
lies against the order of conviction. It must follow from this that the
B
appeal filed by Kodagali before the High Court was maintainable and
ought to have been considered on its own merits.
78. As far as the question of the grant of special leave is concerned,
once again, we need not be overwhelmed by submissions made at the
Bar. The language of the proviso to Section 372 of the Cr.P.C. is quite
clear, particularly when it is contrasted with the language of Section C
378(4) of the Cr.P.C. The text of this provision is quite clear and it is
confined to an order of acquittal passed in a case instituted upon a
complaint. The word ‘complaint’ has been defined in Section 2(d) of the
Cr.P.C. and refers to any allegation made orally or in writing to a
Magistrate. This has nothing to do with the lodging or the registration of D
an FIR, and therefore it is not at all necessary to consider the effect of
a victim being the complainant as far as the proviso to Section 372 of the
Cr.P.C. is concerned.
Final order
79. For the reasons mentioned above, the appeals are allowed E
and the judgment and orders passed by the High Court are set aside and
the mattersareremitted back to the High Court to hear and decide the
appeal filed by Kodagali against the judgment and order of acquittal
dated 28th October, 2013 passed by the District and Sessions Judge,
Bagalkot (Karnataka) in S.C. No.49 of 2010. F
DEEPAK GUPTA, J. 1. I have had the privilege of going through
the detailed and erudite judgment of my brother Justice Lokur. I am in
complete agreement with my learned brother that the pain which the
victim of a criminal offence suffers should be understood by the courts
and keeping in view the emerging trends in law, the rights of the victim G
should not be trampled. Victims must be treated with sensitivity,
compassion and respect. They also must be permitted to access justice
because it is sometimes found that the investigating and prosecuting
agencies do not follow up cases with the zeal which is required. Therefore,
I fully agree with my learned brother that the proviso to Section 372 of
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38 SUPREME COURT REPORTS [2018] 13 S.C.R.

A Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973 (for short ‘CrPC’) must be given a
meaning that is realistic, liberal, progressive and beneficial to the victims
of the offences.
2. However, at the same time, one cannot ignore the rights of the
accused and the procedure prescribed by law. I am unable to agree with
B my learned brother that a victim can file an appeal in the High Court
without seeking leave to appeal in terms of Section 378(3) of CrPC.
3. Sections 372 and 378 of CrPC read as under:
“372. No appeal to lie unless otherwise provided. - No appeal
shall lie from any judgment or order of a Criminal Court except as
C provided for by this Code or by any other law for the time being in
force:
[Provided that the victim shall have a right to prefer an appeal
against any order passed by the Court acquitting the accused or
convicting for a lesser offence or imposing inadequate
D compensation, and such appeal shall lie to the Court to which an
appeal ordinarily lies against the order of conviction of such
Court.]”
xxx xxx xxx
“378. Appeal in case of acquittal. - (1) Save as otherwise
E
provided in sub-section (2), and subject to the provisions of sub-
sections (3) and (5),-
a. the District Magistrate may, in any case, direct the Public
Prosecutor to present an appeal to the Court of Session
from an order of acquittal passed by a Magistrate in
F
respect of a cognizable and non-bailable offence;
b. the State Government may, in any case, direct the Public
Prosecutor to present an appeal to the High Court from
an original or appellate order of an acquittal passed by
any Court other than a High Court not being an order
G under clause (a) or an order of acquittal passed by the
Court of Session in revision.
(2) If such an order of acquittal is passed in any case in which the
offence has been investigated by the Delhi Special Police
Establishment constituted under the Delhi Special Police
H
MALLIKARJUN KODAGALI (DEAD) REP. THR. LRS. v. 39
THE STATE OF KARNATAKA [DEEPAK GUPTA, J.]

Establishment Act, 1946 (25 of 1946)or by any other agency A
empowered to make investigation into an offence under any
Central Act other than this Code, the Central Government may,
subject to the provisions of sub-section (3), also direct the Public
Prosecutor to present an appeal-
a. to the Court of Session, from an order of acquittal passed B
by a Magistrate in respect of a cognizable and non-bailable
offence;
b. to the High Court from an original or appellate order of an
acquittal passed by any Court other than a High Court
not being an order under clause (a) or an order of acquittal C
passed by the Court of Session in revision.
(3) No appeal to the High Court under sub- section (1) or sub-
section (2) shall be entertained except with the leave of the High
Court.
(4) If such an order of acquittal is passed in any case instituted D
upon complaint and the High Court, on an application made to it
by the complainant in this behalf, grants special leave to appeal
from the order of acquittal, the complainant may present such an
appeal to the High Court.
(5) No application under sub-section (4) for the grant of special E
leave to appeal from an order of acquittal shall be entertained by
the High Court after the expiry of six months, where the
complainant is a public servant, and sixty days in every other case,
computed from the date of that order of acquittal.
(6) If, in any case, the application under sub-section (4) for the F
grant of special leave to appeal from an order of acquittal is
refused, no appeal from that order of acquittal shall lie under sub-
section (1) or under sub- section (2).”
The proviso to Section 372 was added by way of amendment inserted
by Act 5 of 2009 with effect from 31.12.2009. G
4. As far as the present case is concerned, the offence took place
on 06.02.2009 i.e. prior to 31.12.2009 and the order of acquittal was
passed by the trial court on 28.10.2013. I am in agreement with my
learned brother that the right to file an appeal to the victim will arise only
H
40 SUPREME COURT REPORTS [2018] 13 S.C.R.

A on the date when the judgment is passed by the trial court because then
alone the victim has a right to urge that the acquittal is wrong or that the
sentence awarded to the accused is not commensurate with the offence
which the accused may have committed. Therefore, I have no doubt
that the victim has a right to appeal and to that extent the judgment of
the High Court is liable to be set aside.
B
5. My only difference of opinion is with regard to the conclusion
drawn in the judgment of my learned brother that the victim, even in
appeal filed in the High Court, is not required to seek leave of the High
Court. In my considered view, this matter is, in fact, no longer res integra.
This Court has specifically dealt with this issue in Satya Pal Singh v.
C State of M.P. and Others1, wherein it held as follows:
“10. The Full Bench of the High Court of Delhi in Ram Phal v.
State, 2015 SCC Online Del 9802, after examining the relevant
provisions under Section 2(wa) and the proviso to Section 372
CrPC, in the light of their legislative history has held that the right
D to prefer an appeal conferred upon the victim or relatives of the
victim by virtue of the proviso to Section 372 is an independent
statutory right. Therefore, it has held that there is no need for the
victim in terms of definition under Section 2(wa) CrPC to seek
the leave of the High Court as required under sub-section (3) of
E Section 378 CrPC to prefer an appeal under the proviso to Section
372 CrPC. The said view of the High Court is not legally correct
for the reason that the substantive provision of Section 372 CrPC
clearly provides that no appeal shall lie from any judgment and
order of a criminal court except as provided for by CrPC. Further,
sub-section (3) of Section 378 CrPC provides that for preferring
F an appeal to the High Court against an order of acquittal it is
necessary to obtain its leave.
xxx xxx xxx
xxx xxx xxx
G 15. Thus, to conclude on the legal issue:
“whether the appellant herein, being the father of the
deceased, has statutory right to prefer an appeal to the High
Court against the order of acquittal under the proviso to Section
1
(2015) 15 SCC 613
H
MALLIKARJUN KODAGALI (DEAD) REP. THR. LRS. v. 41
THE STATE OF KARNATAKA [DEEPAK GUPTA, J.]

372 CrPC without obtaining the leave of the High Court as A
required under sub-section (3) of Section 378 CrPC?”
this Court is of the view that the right of questioning the correctness
of the judgment and order of acquittal by preferring an appeal to
the High Court is conferred upon the victim including the legal
heir and others, as defined under Section 2(wa) CrPC, under the B
proviso to Section 372, but only after obtaining the leave of the
High Court as required under sub-section (3) of Section 378 CrPC.
The High Court of M.P. has failed to deal with this important legal
aspect of the matter while passing the impugned judgment and
order.”
C
6. The only issue with which I am dealing is whether a victim
while filing an appeal under Section 372 of CrPC in the High Court
against the acquittal of an accused is required to obtain leave of the
court under Section 378(3) CrPC. Prior to the amendment of Section
372 of CrPC the victim had no right to file an appeal. The traditional
view has always been that the State represents the victim of the crime. D
Criminal offences have always been treated to be offences against the
State and it is the State alone which investigated and prosecuted such
cases. In case the State machinery does not take action on the complaint
of the victim, the said victim has a right under Section 156 of CrPC to
approach the court. Under Section 156(3) CrPC, the magistrate may E
order an investigation to be done by the police. Once the investigation is
done, then again the victim has no hand in the investigation except to
assist the investigating officer and to bring evidence to the notice of the
investigating officer. After investigation, the investigating officer files a
final report under Section 173 CrPC. The investigating officer may come
to the conclusion that either no offence is made out or may file report F
showing what offences are made out in which case the court proceeds
further. Even in those cases where the investigating agency files a report
that no criminal offence is made out, the victim has a right to object to
the report and he can argue before the court that a case is made out on
the basis of the evidence collected or he can even urge that the police G
must be directed to carry out further and more investigation.
7. Chapter XXIX of the CrPC deals with appeals. Appeals against
acquittal are governed by Section 378 of CrPC. As per sub-section (1)
of this section only a District Magistrate or the State as the case may be
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42 SUPREME COURT REPORTS [2018] 13 S.C.R.

A is entitled to direct the Public Prosecutor to file an appeal. Sub-section
(2) deals with cases investigated under the Delhi Special Police
Establishment Act, 1946 and in these cases the Central Government
may also direct the Public Prosecutor to file an appeal. I am concerned
mainly with sub-section (3) of Section 378 of CrPC, which provides that
no appeal to the High Court either under sub-section (1) or sub-section
B
(2) shall be entertained except with the leave of the High Court. Sub-
section (4) deals with appeals filed by the complainant in case the order
of acquittal is passed in a case instituted upon a complaint. In such cases
if the appeal has to be filed in the High Court it cannot be entertained
unless the High Court grants special leave to appeal from the order of
C acquittal. Sub-section (5) provides the limitation for filing the petition for
grant of special leave to appeal in terms of sub-section (4). Sub-section
(6) lays down that in case the application for special leave to appeal filed
by a complainant under sub-section (4) is refused then no appeal from
that order of acquittal shall lie under sub-section (1) or under sub-section
(2). An analysis of Section 378 of CrPC clearly shows that the CrPC
D
envisaged and granted a predominant role to the State. It was the State
alone which was entitled to file an appeal. The only exception was in
complaint cases where the complainant could file an appeal. He also
had to seek special leave to appeal in case the appeal lay to the High
Court.
E 8. Interestingly, Section 372 of CrPC which was amended in the
year 2008 to give a right to the victim is a negative section which
specifically provided, before its amendment, that no appeal would lie
from any judgment or order of a criminal Court except as provided for
by the CrPC or by any other law in force. The Legislature while giving
F a victim the right to appeal did not, for reasons best known to it, give this
right to file appeal to the victim under Section 378 of CrPC or any other
specific section. Surprisingly this right to the victim was given as a proviso
to Section 372 of CrPC. This proviso is not very happily worded. Be that
as it may, the fact is that a victim now has a right to appeal under this
proviso. He can file the appeal against the following orders:-
G
(i) any order passed by a Court acquitting the accused;
(ii) any order passed by a Court where the accused is convicted
of a lesser offence but the victim feels that he should have
been convicted for a higher offence. Obviously the appeal
H lies against the acquittal of the accused for a higher offence;
MALLIKARJUN KODAGALI (DEAD) REP. THR. LRS. v. 43
THE STATE OF KARNATAKA [DEEPAK GUPTA, J.]

(iii) an appeal lies where the victim is not satisfied by the quantum A
of compensation awarded.
9. Dealing with the issue, as to whether a victim should seek
leave to appeal, one must first understand the concept behind introducing
the concept of leave to appeal, especially when the appeals are filed in
the High Courts. The presumption of innocence which is attached to B
every accused gets fortified and strengthened when the said accused is
acquitted by the trial Court. Probably, for this reason, the law makers
felt that when the appeal is to be filed in the High Court it should not be
filed as a matter of course or as matter of right but leave of the High
Court must be obtained before the appeal is entertained. Therefore, the
High Court would at the initial stage of deciding whether the leave is to C
be granted or not go into the merits of the case. Only if arguable points
are involved, the High Court normally grants leave to appeal. This would
not only prevent the High Court from being flooded with appeals but
more importantly would ensure that innocent persons who have already
faced the tribulation of a long drawn out criminal trial are not again D
unnecessarily dragged to the High Court.
10. At this stage, it would also be pertinent to mention that under
Section 378 of CrPC an appeal against the order of acquittal passed by
a Magistrate in respect of cognizable and non-bailable offences lies to
the Sessions Court and no leave to appeal is required. From the Court of E
Magistrate it is only appeals in respect of offences which are non-
cognizable and bailable i.e. less serious offences which would lie to the
High Court. In such cases, leave to appeal is a pre-requisite. This was
done with a view to ensure that the persons who had faced trial for
relatively lesser offences should not have to bear the expenses of an
appeal in the High Court. The other appeals which lie to the High Court F
are appeals from the Court of Sessions. These are serious criminal matters
and relate to much graver offences. Here the concept of leave to appeal
was probably introduced because these cases are decided by relatively
senior Judges i.e. Sessions Judges. The Legislature felt that in such
cases also the appeals against acquittals must be scrutinized with greater G
care.
11. As pointed out above, even a complainant when he files an
appeal against an order of acquittal in a case instituted upon a complaint
is required to obtain special leave to appeal. It is true that the proviso to
Section 372 of CrPC does not indicate that a victim while filing an appeal H
44 SUPREME COURT REPORTS [2018] 13 S.C.R.

A in the High Court must file a petition for leave to appeal before his
appeal can be entertained.
12. I am of the considered view that though the proviso to Section
372 of CrPC does give a right to the victim to file an appeal, this proviso
cannot be read in isolation. It has to be given a meaning which fulfills the
B intention of the Legislature. The proviso to Section 372 of CrPC does
not lay down the procedure as to how, in what manner, and within which
time the appeal has to be filed. An appeal, being a creature of the statute,
it is also necessary to prescribe the limitation and procedure for filing the
appeal.
C 13. Adverting to sub-section (4) of Section 378 of CrPC, if an
order of acquittal is passed on a case instituted upon a complaint then
the High Court before entertaining an appeal by the complainant must
grant special leave to appeal. The expression “Special leave to appeal”
has no different meaning than the expression “leave to appeal” and it
appears to me that the word “special” has been added only to distinguish
D “leave to appeal” sought by the complainant from the “leave to appeal”
sought by the State. Thus, in a complaint case where the complainant
has set the wheels of the Court in motion even if the complainant files
the appeal he must obtain special leave to appeal. This again gives rise
to an interesting question- Can the victim be placed on a higher pedestal
E than the complainant? More often than not, the victim and the complainant
are likely to be one and the same person.
14. In case, I accept the proposition that the victim need not seek
leave to appeal in case the appeal is to be filed in the High Court there
shall be another anomalous situation. Supposing there are two victims in
F a case and one of the victims files a complaint and sets the wheels of
justice moving and the case is tried as a complaint case. In case the
accused is acquitted and the victim who is the complainant wants to file
an appeal in the High Court, he will have to seek special leave to appeal
whereas the victim who had not even approached the Court at the initial
stage will be entitled to file an appeal without seeking leave to appeal.
G This could not have been the intention of the Legislature.
15. I am fully conscious of the changes in criminal jurisprudence
referred to by my learned brother and the expanding rights of the victim,
which the victim must have. At the same time, these rights must be

H
MALLIKARJUN KODAGALI (DEAD) REP. THR. LRS. v. 45
THE STATE OF KARNATAKA [DEEPAK GUPTA, J.]

balanced with the rights of the accused. According to the records of A
National Crime Record Bureau, the conviction rate in the country in
2016 was only 21.25% and 78.75% cases ended in discharge or acquittal.
One cannot lose sight of the fact that out of these 78.75% cases in
which acquittal was recorded, there may be many cases which are totally
false.
B
16. It may be that many people are set free because of poor
investigation and on account of indifferent prosecution. At the same
time, it is not uncommon for individuals to file false cases. In fact, this
Court has noted the misuse of Section 498A of Indian Penal Code, 1860
in the case of Rajesh Sharma v. State of U.P.2 and of Scheduled Caste
and Scheduled Tribe (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, 1989 in the case of C
Dr. Subhash Kashinath Mahajan v. State of Maharashtra3. Therefore,
while interpreting the law one cannot shut one’s eyes to the fact that a
large number of false cases are filed and appeals will more likely than
not be filed in such cases when the acquittal of the accused is ordered.
17. One also cannot be oblivious to the fact that one of the bedrocks D
of our criminal jurisprudence is that every person is presumed innocent
unless found guilty. This presumption of innocence gets strengthened
when the person is acquitted. Therefore, the legislature felt that before
a person who has been acquitted after a protracted trial is called to face
proceedings in the High Court in an appeal, the High Court should look E
into the matter and first decide whether there are sufficient reasons to
grant leave to file appeal or not. This is, in a manner of speaking a
preliminary hearing to decide whether the matter is worth looking into or
not. I see no reason why such scrutiny should not be done in appeals
filed by the victim. The victim cannot be placed on a higher pedestal
than the State or the complainant. F

18. The right of the victim to file an appeal is not taken away or in
any manner weakened only because he has to seek leave to appeal. If
Sections 378(3), 378(4) and 372 of CrPC are read together, it is clear
that the victim is also required to apply for leave to appeal before his
appeal can be entertained. G
19. Though the victim has rights, one cannot forget that a victim
who may have suffered, may also seek revenge. Therefore, an obligation

2
2017 SCC Online SC 821
3
(2018) 6 SCC 454 H
46 SUPREME COURT REPORTS [2018] 13 S.C.R.

A has been cast upon the State to prosecute the accused. In fact, even
now a trial under the CrPC has to be conducted by the Public Prosecutor
or Assistant Public Prosecutor. No private lawyer can be engaged to
conduct the trial under Section 301(2) of CrPC. A private person including
the victim, can only instruct a pleader to act on his behalf in court but the
prosecution has to be conducted either by the Public Prosecutor or
B
Assistant Public Prosecutor and the pleader engaged by the private person
can only act as per the directions of the Public Prosecutor or Assistant
Public Prosecutor. The reason behind this is that the victim may fabricate
evidence or hide true facts whereas the Public Prosecutor or Assistant
Public Prosecutor is expected to be fair to the court, to the accused and
C to the victim.
20. On the one hand are the rights of the victim and on the other
hand, is the well settled principle of criminal jurisprudence that every
man is presumed to be innocent till proved guilty. Therefore, though the
victim may have a right to file an appeal, this right of filing an appeal
D vested in the victim, cannot be larger than the right of filing an appeal
which inheres in the State and the complainant in a complaint case.
Therefore, I am of the view that when the victim files an appeal against
acquittal in the High Court he has to seek leave to appeal under Section
378(3) CrPC.
E
Nidhi Jain Appeals allowed.

F

G

H