In Brief
A man whose wife died following treatment at a clinic by an unqualified practitioner challenged an acquittal order. The accused had been convicted of negligence under IPC Section 304-A but acquitted on appeal. The widow's husband (as complainant) originally filed an appeal but withdrew it when the State filed for leave to appeal. When the State's leave petition was dismissed, the complainant was left with no remedy. The Supreme Court held that a victim/complainant has an independent statutory right under Section 372 Cr.P.C. to appeal acquittals, separate from the State's appeal rights. The dismissal of the State's leave petition did not extinguish this right. The Court allowed the complainant to renew his withdrawn appeal before the High Court.
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