Page No.# 1/3 GAHC010019992026 undefined THE GAUHATI HIGH COURT (HIGH COURT OF ASSAM, NAGALAND, MIZORAM AND ARUNACHAL PRADESH) Case No. : I.A.(Crl.)/143/2026 In Crl.A.(J)/901/2026 (Filing Number) SRI CHITRA PANGING S/O LATETANUWAR PANGING @ RIKA AMERICA @ BORDEKA, RESIDENTOF VILLAGE- DIMOW CHARIALI,P.S- SILAPATHAR, DISTRICT DHEMAJI, ASSAM. VERSUS THE STATE OF ASSAM AND ANR REP BY PP, ASSAM 2:SMT RINA PANGING CHETRY W/O LATE BHAKTA BAHADUR CHETRY A R/O VILL. DMOW CHARIALI P.S. SILAPATHAR DIST. DHEMAJI ASSAM Advocate for the Petitioner : MS. L DEVI, LEGAL AID COUNSEL Advocate for the Respondent : PP, ASSAM, Page No.# 2/3 BEFORE HONOURABLE MR. JUSTICE SANJAY KUMAR MEDHI HONOURABLE MR. JUSTICE PRANJAL DAS ORDER Date : 18-02-2026 18.02.2026 (SK Medhi, J.) Heard Ms. L. Devi, learned Legal Aid Counsel for the applicant, who has filed this application under Section 5 of the Limitation Act, 1963 for condonation of delay of 84 days in preferring the connected appeal. The connected appeal has been preferred against the judgment and order dated 11.09.2025 passed by the learned Sessions Judge, Dhemaji in Sessions Case No. 10/2023 whereby, the applicant/appellant was convicted and sentenced to undergo RI for life, and to pay a fine of Rs. 5,000/-, in default, he shall undergo RI for a period of 2 months under Section 302 IPC and was further sentenced to undergo RI for 3 months for committing the offence under Section 448 of the IPC. Ms. Devi, learned Legal Aid Counsel, by referring to the averments made in paragraphs 2 and 3 has submitted that due to reasons beyond the control of the appellant, the delay has occasioned. She has also reiterated that there is no negligence or laches in preferring the appeal. Ms. B. Bhuyan, learned Addl. P.P., Assam has fairly conceded that there would be no serious objection to the aspect of condonation of delay and the appeal would, rather, be contested on its merits. Law is well settled on the aspect of dealing with an application for condonation of delay wherein there is a requirement to have a pragmatic and justice oriented approach. We have also noted that the appeal has been prepared from jail through a Legal Aid Counsel and the reasons cited appear to be bona fide. Page No.# 3/3 In that view of the matter, the delay of 84 days in preferring the appeal stands condoned. The I.A. is accordingly allowed. The connected appeal may be registered and listed for admission hearing. JUDGE JUDGE Comparing Assistant