For the Appellant : Mr. J.R. Dash, Amicus Curiae
along with Ms. Sartika Das,
Amicus Curiae
For the Respondent : Mr. Sobhan Panigrahi, ASC
CORAM:
THE HONOURABLE SHRI JUSTICE SIBO SANKAR MISHRA
Date of Hearing: 24.02.2026 : Date of Judgment: 26.02.2026
S.S. Mishra, J. The present Criminal Appeal has been preferred by
the appellant assailing the judgment and order dated 11th November,
1997 passed by the learned Special Judge-cum-Sessions Judge, Balangir-
Sonepur at Balangir in G.R. Case No.195 of 1995 / T.R. No.17 of 1995.
By the said judgment, the learned trial Court convicted the appellant for
the offences punishable under Sections 324 and 294 of the Indian Penal
Code (hereinafter referred to as “the Code” for the sake of brevity) as
well as under Section 3(1)(xi) of the S.C. & S.T. (P.o.A.) Act
(hereinafter referred to as “the Act” for brevity). Upon such conviction,
the appellant was sentenced to undergo rigorous imprisonment for a
period of one month for the offence under Section 294 of the Code;
