PRATAP SINGH vs STATE OF H.P. — Crl.A. No. 729/2001

Summary: Crl.A. No. 729/2001 — Pratap Singh v. State of H.P. Outcome: The Supreme Court set aside the High Court's order dismissing the appellant's appeal and directed the High Court to rehear the case, treating the appeal as a petition under Section 482 Cr.P.C. The Court held that an accused cannot be left without judicial remedy when an order is passed under Section 9 of the Probation of Offenders Act. Background: Pratap Singh was convicted under Section 324 IPC and granted probation. In 1993, the prosecution sought to withdraw the probation benefit under Section 9 of the Probation of Offenders Act. The trial court granted this in 1999, sentencing him to three years rigorous imprisonment and a fine. When Singh filed Criminal Appeal No. 297/99 before the Himachal Pradesh High Court, it was dismissed on the preliminary objection that no appeal lies against a Section 9 order. Next Step: The High Court must reconsider the case on merits as a Section 482 petition. This case analysis is maintained by casestatus.in based on publicly available court records.