In Brief
This appeal addressed the scope of the High Court's revisional powers under Section 401 Cr.P.C. when reviewing an order of acquittal. The Court held that the High Court cannot directly convert an acquittal into a conviction, even in the exercise of revisional jurisdiction—Section 401(3) categorically forbids this. If the High Court identifies manifest illegality or miscarriage of justice, it must remit the matter for retrial or rehearing, not convict. Additionally, since victims now possess a statutory right of appeal against acquittal under Section 372 Cr.P.C., they must use that remedy rather than revision. The Court set aside the High Court's conviction and remitted the matter for the High Court to treat the revision applications as appeals and decide them on merits according to law."
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