In Brief
The Supreme Court held that victims and legal heirs possess a statutory right under the proviso to Section 372 of the Criminal Procedure Code to appeal against acquittals. However, this right is not absolute. The Court clarified that such appeals require prior leave of the High Court under Section 378(3) CrPC. The proviso to Section 372 must be read harmoniously with Section 378(3), not as an independent unfettered right. The Court set aside the High Court's prior orders and remanded the matters for the High Court to consider granting leave to the victims/legal heirs to file their appeals.
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