MC(Crl. A.) No. 11 of 2026 Page 1 Item Nos. 38 IN THE HIGH COURT OF MANIPUR AT IMPHAL MC(Crl. A.) No. 11 of 2026 Shagolsem Ranbir Meitei …Applicant/s Vrs. State of Manipur & 2 Ors …Respondent/s -B E F O R E- HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE AHANTHEM BIMOL SINGH 05.06.2026 Heard Mr. N. Umakanta, learned Sr. counsel assisted by Ms. Kathanlu Riamei, learned counsel appearing for the applicant and Mr. H. Samarjit, learned Sr. counsel and PP assisted by Mr. A. Bheigya Meitei, learned Dy. GA appearing for the respondents. The present application has been filed with a prayer for condoning the delay of 2850 days in preferring the accompanied Criminal Appeal. It has been submitted by the learned Sr. counsel appearing for the applicant that the applicant was convicted under section 6 of the POCSO Act, 2012 by a judgment and order dated 20.04.2018 passed by the Spl. Judge POCSO, Imphal West in Spl. Trial Case No. 1 of 2016 and the petitioner was sentenced to undergo rigorous imprisonment for a period of 15 years with a fine of Rs. 30,000/-. Lucy Gurum ayum Digitally signed by Lucy Gurumayum Date: 2026.06.05 16:51:48 +05'30' MC(Crl. A.) No. 11 of 2026 Page 2 It has also been submitted by the learned Sr. counsel appearing for the applicant that after his conviction, the petitioner is languishing in jail for 11 years. It has been submitted that the applicant or his family member do not have the means to file the criminal appeal on their own. However, while the applicant was incarcerated in Sajiwa Central Jail, he was informed by a team of High Court Legal Services Committee that he can avail free legal aid and he can file an appeal before this Court against the conviction and sentenced. It has also been submitted by the learned Sr. counsel that the accompanying criminal appeal as well as the condonation application have been filed as a Legal Aid by the Legal Aid counsel on behalf of the applicant. The contention of the learned Sr. counsel for the applicant is that in view of the above narrated facts, the present application may be allowed by condoning the delay in preferring the accompanied appeal and to heard the said criminal appeal on merit. Mr. H. Samarjit, learned Sr. counsel and PP appearing for the respondents fairly submitted that he has no objection in allowing the present condonation application and to consider the accompanying criminal appeal on merit. MC(Crl. A.) No. 11 of 2026 Page 3 Taking into consideration the submission advanced by the learned Sr. counsel appearing for the parties and on perusal of the records, this Court is satisfied that there is sufficient caused and explanation for the delay in preferring the accompanied appeal. Accordingly, the present application is allowed by condoning the delay of 2850 days in filing the accompanying criminal appeal. Registry is directed to number the accompanying criminal appeal and to list it for admission hearing if the same is otherwise found to be in order. With the aforesaid directions, the present application is disposed of. JUDGE Lucy