$~70 * IN THE HIGH COURT OF DELHI AT NEW DELHI # CNR No. DLHC010452762026 + W.P.(C) 13948/2026 VIRENDER SINGH .....Petitioner Through: Ms. Saahila Lamba and Ms. Sadvi, Advocates versus UNION OF INDIA AND ORS .....Respondents Through: Mr. Ravi Kant Srivastava, Senior Panel Counsel with Mr. Abhishek Pandey GP and Mr. Robert Laishram, Advocates Mr. Ajay Pal (Law Officer), Inspector Athurv, CRPF CORAM: HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE NITIN WASUDEO SAMBRE HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE SANJAY SHARMA O R D E R % 22.09.2026 1. The challenge in the present petition is to the order of Commandant 120 BN, CRPF, Tura, Meghalaya dated 12th August, 2026, whereby the request of petitioner for re-instatement post his acquittal pursuant to statutory mandate provided under Sub-Section (8) of Section 320 of the Cr.P.C. came to be rejected. 2. The petitioner was charge-sheeted for an offence punishable under Section 354 IPC, however, the said offence resulted into compounding vide judgment and order dated 18th July, 2025 passed by the Meghalaya High Court in Crl. Rev P. No.9 of 2024 titled as Shri Virendra Singh Vs. The State This is a digitally signed order. The authenticity of the order can be re-verified from Delhi High Court Order Portal by scanning the QR code shown above. The Order is downloaded from the DHC Server on 24/09/2026 at 11:23:08 of Meghalaya & Anr. 3. It is the contention of learned counsel for the petitioner that the observations made by the Meghalaya High Court, particularly in para 9, results into the only conclusion that the petitioner was honourably acquitted. Para 9 of the said judgment reads as under:- “9. In view of the above, this Court deems it appropriate to allow the prayer made by the petitioner in this case in terms of the decision of the Apex Court in the case of P. Ramaswamy (Supra). Thus, in be circumstances, without going into the question as to the legality and correctness of the conviction and sentence of the petitioner in the criminal case, the petitioner and the respondent No.2 are permitted to compound the offence u/s 354 IPC for which the petitioner was convicted. The said offence shall stand compounded and the composition of this shall have the effect of acquittal in the case in terms of section 320(8) Cr.PC. The petitioner, as such, is acquitted of the charge u/s 354 IPC.” 4. Contrary to aforesaid, it appears that the respondents have recorded a finding that there was no acquittal and rather, the conduct of the petitioner has resulted in tarnishing the image of the Force. As such, the request for reinstatement was rejected. 5. Prima facie, there appears to be substance in the claim put forth by learned counsel for the petitioner that the impugned order goes contrary to the judgment referred to above and also to the statutory mandate under Section 320 Cr.P.C., as the compounding ordered by the Meghalaya High Court in exercise of Revisional jurisdiction under Section 397 of the Cr.P.C. This is a digitally signed order. The authenticity of the order can be re-verified from Delhi High Court Order Portal by scanning the QR code shown above. The Order is downloaded from the DHC Server on 24/09/2026 at 11:23:08 has the effect of acquittal. 6. At this stage, it is rightly pointed out by learned counsel for the respondents that there is an alternative remedy of an appeal. 7. As such, we direct the petitioner to prefer an appeal within a period of four weeks from today. 8. We further direct that the statutory appeal so preferred by the petitioner within the stipulated period be not disposed of on the ground of limitation and be adjudicated on its merit in light of the submissions made hereinabove, expeditiously and in any case within a period of three months from the date of the appeal being preferred by the petitioner. 9. With the above observations, the petition stands disposed of. 10. Needless to clarify, we have not gone into merits of the matter. 11. Pending application, if any, also stands disposed of. NITIN WASUDEO SAMBRE, J SANJAY SHARMA, J SEPTEMBER 22, 2026/ay/ok This is a digitally signed order. The authenticity of the order can be re-verified from Delhi High Court Order Portal by scanning the QR code shown above. The Order is downloaded from the DHC Server on 24/09/2026 at 11:23:08