IMPORTANT POINT
First appeal against conclusion and sentence disposed of by High Court without hearing Advocate for appellant for his non-appearance but non-appearance was not due to latches on part of Advocate, was liable to be reheard and to be disposed of after an opportunity of hearing to Advocate for accused.

ORDER

Appellant was one of the persons convicted by a Criminal Court for offences under Sections 399 and 402 of the Indian Penal Code. He was sentenced to undergo rigorous imprisonment for seven years for the first count and five years on the second count. He filed an appeal before the High Court. That appeal was disposed of by reducing the sentence on the first count to imprisonment for five years while retaining the sentence on the second count as it is.

2. The main grievance of the appellant is that his Advocate was not heard by the High Court at all. That fact is not disputed and the High Court has also noted that none appeared for the appellant when it was taken up. The two Advocates who were engaged by the appellant were requested by us to convince us, in the light of the stand adopted by the appellant before us, as to why they could not be present. They filed separate affidavits and they came to this Court to explain why they were not present. We are satisfied from the explanation that their absence was not on account of any laches on their part. They said that the appeal was not, to their knowledge, listed for hearing on the particular date. We accept their version.

3. The appeal filed by the appellant before the High Court therefore requires to be heard and disposed of afresh as one appeal against the conviction and sentence of imprisonment is sine qua non for deprivation of the liberty of a citizen. As the Advocates failed to notice the date of hearing one more chance to argue the appeal can be afforded to the appellant. We, therefore, set aside the impugned judgment insofar as it concerns this appellant alone, and send the appeal back to the High Court for disposal afresh after affording a reasonable opportunity to the appellant or his Counsel in the matter. During the pendency of the appeal before the High Court the appellant will remain on bail as the bail bond executed by him and remained in force when the appeal was pending will revive.

This appeal is disposed of accordingly.

Appeal allowed. Matter remanded.

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