1 IN THE SUPREME COURT OF INDIA CRIMINAL APPELLATE JURISDICTION CRIMINAL APPEAL NO. OF 2025 (arising out of SLP (Crl.) No. 4238/2025) ANIRUDHA KUMAR SINGH ..... APPELLANT(S) VERSUS EASTERN COALFIELD LIMITED & ANR. ..... RESPONDENT(S) O R D E R Leave granted. By way of this appeal, Anirudha Kumar Singh, the second respondent in CRR No. 3635 of 2022 on the file of the High Court at Calcutta, assails the order dated 26.11.2024 passed therein. Having heard the learned counsel for the parties and having perused the records, we find that the High Court ordered notice in the aforestated case on 05.09.2024 in the first instance, and service of notice was effected upon the second respondent therein, viz., the appellant before us, on 14.09.2024. Thereafter, the High Court heard the matter in part on 18.09.2024 but, by order dated 19.09.2024, the High Court deemed it appropriate to again direct service of notice upon respondent No. 2 therein, viz., the appellant, through the Salanpur Police Station. It is an admitted fact that this notice was served upon respondent No. 2, viz., the appellant, only on 25.11.2024. This was certified by the Salanpur Police Station in its letter of the same
2 date addressed to the Public Prosecutor at the High Court. However, the impugned order was passed on the very next day, that is, on 26.11.2024. Obviously, the appellant, who is a resident of Dhanbad, Jharkhand, would not have had sufficient time to make arrangements or to go over to the High Court at Calcutta by the very next day and was, therefore, not given an opportunity of hearing before the passing of the impugned order. On that short ground, the appeal is allowed, setting aside the impugned order dated 26.11.2024, and the matter is remitted to the High Court for consideration afresh after hearing all the parties. We, however, make it clear that we have not gone into the merits of the matter and this order is passed only due to the fact that the appellant had no opportunity to advance his case after service of the second notice. The appeal is allowed in the aforestated terms. Pending application(s), if any, shall stand disposed of. ......................J. (SANJAY KUMAR) ......................J. (SATISH CHANDRA SHARMA) NEW DELHI; AUGUST 05, 2025.
3 ITEM NO.26 COURT NO.13 SECTION II-B S U P R E M E C O U R T O F I N D I A RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS Petition for Special Leave to Appeal (Crl.) No. 4238/2025 [Arising out of impugned final judgment and order dated 26-11-2024 in CRR No. 3635/2022 passed by the High Court at Calcutta] ANIRUDHA KUMAR SINGH Petitioner(s) VERSUS EASTERN COALFIELD LIMITED & ANR. Respondent(s) FOR ADMISSION Date : 05-08-2025 This petition was called on for hearing today. CORAM : HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE SANJAY KUMAR HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE SATISH CHANDRA SHARMA For Petitioner(s) Dr. Joseph Aristotle S, Sr. Adv. Mr. Naveen Kumar, Adv. Ms. Priya Aristotle, AOR For Respondent(s) Mr. Vikramaditya, AOR UPON hearing the counsel, the Court made the following O R D E R Leave granted. The appeal is allowed in terms of the signed order. Pending application(s), if any, shall stand disposed of. (Babita Pandey) (Preeti Saxena) Astt. Registrar-cum-PS Court Master (NSH) (Signed order is placed on the file)
ITEM NO.47 COURT NO.1 SECTION II-B S U P R E M E C O U R T O F I N D I A RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS Petition(s) for Special Leave to Appeal (Crl.) No(s). 4238/2025 [Arising out of impugned final judgment and order dated 26-11-2024 in CRR No. 3635/2022 passed by the High Court at Calcutta] ANIRUDHA KUMAR SINGH Petitioner(s) VERSUS EASTERN COALFIELD LIMITED & ANR. Respondent(s) FOR ADMISSION Date : 07-05-2025 This petition was called on for hearing today. CORAM : HON'BLE THE CHIEF JUSTICE HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE SANJAY KUMAR For Petitioner(s) Dr. Joseph Aristotle S, Sr. Adv. Mr. Naveen Kumar, Adv. Mr. Naveen Nagarjuna, Adv. Ms. Priya Aristotle, AOR For Respondent(s) Mr. Vikramaditya, AOR UPON hearing the counsel, the Court made the following O R D E R Learned counsel appearing for the respondents prays for and is granted two weeks’ time to file a counter affidavit/reply to meet the allegations made by the petitioner that he did not get sufficient opportunity to appear and argue the matter. Rejoinder affidavit, if any, may be filed within two weeks after service of the counter affidavit/reply. Re-list in the week commencing 04.08.2025. (BABITA PANDEY) (ANU BHALLA) AR-CUM-PS COURT MASTER (NSH)
ITEM NO.31 COURT NO.1 SECTION II-B S U P R E M E C O U R T O F I N D I A RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS Petition for Special Leave to Appeal (Crl.) No. 4238/2025 [Arising out of impugned final judgment and order dated 26-11-2024 in CRR No. 3635/2022 passed by the High Court at Calcutta] ANIRUDHA KUMAR SINGH Petitioner(s) VERSUS EASTERN COALFIELD LIMITED & ANR. Respondent(s) FOR ADMISSION Date : 02-05-2025 This petition was called on for hearing today. CORAM : HON'BLE THE CHIEF JUSTICE HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE SANJAY KUMAR HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE K.V. VISWANATHAN For Petitioner(s) Dr. Joseph Aristotle S, Sr. Adv. Mr. Naveen Kumar, Adv. Mr. Naveen Nagarjuna, Adv. Ms. Priya Aristotle, AOR For Respondent(s) Mr. Vikramaditya, AOR UPON hearing the counsel, the Court made the following O R D E R Re-list on 07.05.2025. A copy of the present special leave petition will be furnished to the learned counsel for the respondents during the course of the day. (BABITA PANDEY) (R.S. NARAYANAN) AR-CUM-PS ASSISTANT REGISTRAR
ITEM NO.43 COURT NO.10 SECTION II-B S U P R E M E C O U R T O F I N D I A RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS Petition for Special Leave to Appeal (Crl.) No. 4238/2025 [Arising out of impugned final judgment and order dated 26-11-2024 in CRR No. 3635/2022 passed by the High Court at Calcutta] ANIRUDHA KUMAR SINGH Petitioner(s) VERSUS EASTERN COALFIELD LIMITED & ANR. Respondent(s) FOR ADMISSION Date : 28-03-2025 This petition was called on for hearing today. CORAM : HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE SANJAY KUMAR HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE K.V. VISWANATHAN For Petitioner(s) Dr. Joseph Aristotle S., Sr. Adv. Mr. Naveen Kumar, Adv. Ms. Priya Aristotle, AOR For Respondent(s) UPON hearing the counsel, the Court made the following O R D E R It is the specific case of the petitioner that he received the notice only on 25.11.2024 and, therefore, he could not effectively appear before the High Court on 26.11.2024. Issue notice, returnable on 02.05.2025. Notice shall be served by all modes, including dasti. (BABITA PANDEY) (R.S. NARAYANAN) AR-cum-PS ASSISTANT REGISTRAR