Accused Need Not Appear at Every Appeal Hearing After Sentence Suspension: Supreme Court

The Supreme Court of India held that requiring an accused to remain personally present at every hearing of an appeal, after suspension of sentence, is unwarranted and serves no purpose.

The ruling arose from a Haryana case where a convict in a cheque dishonour matter faced a non-bailable warrant despite her sentence being suspended.

The Court noted that appeals often remain pending for long periods and are repeatedly adjourned, making compulsory appearance burdensome.

It directed that bail shall continue until disposal of the appeal and ordered its ruling to be circulated to all district courts in Punjab and Haryana.

[Meenakshi v. State of Haryana & Ors.]