MANOJ JETHABHAI MER vs The Union Territory of DNH Daman and Diu AND ORS — IA/1567/2026

Case Summary: IA 1567/2026 The High Court of Bombay's Interim Application allowed Manoj Jethabhai Mer's plea to condone a 68-day delay in filing an appeal against his conviction under Sections 10 and 12 of the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act, 2012 (sentenced to 5 and 3 years rigorous imprisonment respectively). The court found the reasons for delay justified, considering the applicant's custody since December 2023, and prioritized substantive justice by permitting the appeal's registration. The Criminal Appeal was admitted with notice returnable on 9 July 2026. This case analysis is maintained by casestatus.in based on publicly available court records.