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Issues:
1. Jurisdiction of a Sessions Court specified as a Special Court under the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, 1989. 2. Validity of a judgment setting aside a conviction and sentence based on a technical ground. 3. Proper disposal of an appeal challenging a conviction under Section 376 of the Indian Penal Code. Jurisdiction of a Sessions Court specified as a Special Court: The judgment addresses the issue of whether a Sessions Court, specified as a Special Court under the Act, retains its status as a Sessions Court or transforms into a different entity. The Supreme Court clarifies that even after such specification, the Sessions Court remains a Sessions Court and must conduct trials according to the provisions in Chapter XVII of the CrPC. The Court emphasizes that the Special Court, despite its designation, continues to function as a Court of Session, maintaining its powers and character. The trial in such a Court should adhere to the procedures outlined in Chapter XVIII of the CrPC, specifically tailored for trials before a Court of Session. Validity of setting aside a conviction based on a technical ground: The judgment scrutinizes a situation where a Single Judge of the High Court annulled a conviction and sentence due to a perceived lack of jurisdiction by the Trial Judge, who was specified as a Special Court. The Supreme Court criticizes this decision, highlighting that the Sessions Court, acting as a Special Court, indeed had jurisdiction to try the offense under Section 376 of the IPC. The Court deems the premise adopted by the Single Judge as fundamentally flawed, emphasizing that the order of committal was legally valid. The Supreme Court concludes that the appeal should have been decided on its merits rather than on the erroneous premise taken by the Single Judge, leading to the setting aside of the conviction and sentence. Proper disposal of an appeal challenging a conviction under Section 376 IPC: The judgment underscores the importance of raising objections on technical grounds at the earliest stage of criminal proceedings. It criticizes the failure to inform the Single Judge of the consequences of redoing the trial, necessitated by the technicality in question. The Supreme Court emphasizes that if a party fails to raise objections promptly, they forfeit the right to challenge them after the trial concludes. Consequently, the Court sets aside the impugned judgment and remits the case back to the High Court for a fresh disposal of the appeal on its merits, emphasizing the need for a thorough consideration of the appeal based on substantive grounds rather than technicalities. In conclusion, the Supreme Court's judgment clarifies the jurisdiction of a Sessions Court specified as a Special Court, criticizes the annulment of a conviction based on a technicality, and stresses the importance of addressing legal issues promptly in criminal proceedings to ensure a fair and efficient judicial process.
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