ORDER :

1. In the wake of instant surge in COVID – 19 cases and spread of its highly infectious Omicron variant, abundant caution is being maintained, while hearing the matters in the Court, for the safety of all concerned.

2. The matter pertains to an incident which occurred in the year 1993 and the present appeal has been pending since the year 1995.

3. Mr. Deelip Kawadia learned counsel appearing on behalf of the appellants submits that this Criminal Appeal has been preferred against the impugned judgment dated 20.05.1995, passed by the learned Special Judge, SC/ST (Prevention of Atrocities), Act, 1989, in Special Sessions Case No.1/1994, whereby the appellants were convicted for the offence under Section 147 IPC and sentenced to undergo 6 months R.I. and a fine of Rs.100/-each, default of payment of which they were ordered to further undergo one month's imprisonment and under Section 3(1)(v) SC/ST (Prevention of Atrocities), Act, 1989, the appellants were convicted and sentenced to undergo 6 months R.I. and a fine of Rs.100/-each, default of payment of which they were ordered to further undergo one month's imprisonment.

3.1 Learned counsel submits that in the special circumstances,