IN THE HIGH COURT OF HIMACHAL PRADESH, SHIMLA Cr. Appeal No. 180 of 2013 Reserved on: 24.02.2026 Date of Decision: 11.03.2026 State of H.P. ...Appellant Versus Punjab Singh ...Respondent Coram Hon’ble Mr Justice Rakesh Kainthla, Judge.

Whether approved for reporting?¹ No.

For the Appellant/State: Mr. Prashant Singh, Deputy Advocate General.

For the Respondent : Mr. Parth Sanar, Advocate, vice Mr. Manoj Pathak, Advocate Rakesh Kainthla, Judge The present appeal is directed against the judgment dated 14.09.2012, passed by learned Judicial Magistrate First Class, Court No. (1), Paonta Sahib, District Sirmaur (learned Trial Court) vide which the respondent (accused before the learned Trial Court) was acquitted of the commission of offences punishable under Sections 341 and 427 of the Indian Penal Code (IPC). (Parties shall hereinafter be referred to in the same manner as they were arrayed before the learned Trial Court for convenience.)

1 Whether reporters of Local Papers may be allowed to see the judgment? Yes.

2. Briefly stated, the facts giving rise to the present appeal are that the police filed a charge sheet against the ac.cused before the learned Trial Court for the commission of of