Ummed Devi vs The State Of Rajasthan

2026 INSC 931
Non-Reportable
IN THE SUPREME COURT OF INDIA
CRIMINAL APPELLATE JURISDICTION
Criminal Appeal Nos.4090-4091 of 2026
(Arising out of SLP (Crl) Nos.14359-14360 of
2026)
Ummed Devi ...Appellant (s)
Versus
The State of Rajasthan and Anr....Respondent(s)
O R D E R
1. Exemption Applications are allowed.
2. Leave granted.
3. The impugned order dismissed the appeal on
the ground that it was delayed by 19 days and there
was no application to condone the delay.
4. The criminal appeal, from an order of acquittal,
is by the mother of the victim. The allegation was also
of dowry demand and harassment leading to death.
5. True that the appeal should have been
accompanied with an application for condonation of
delay, but the Constitutional Courts should also be
Signature Not Verified
Digitally signed by
VISHAL ANAND
Date: 2026.08.31
18:29:55 IST
Reason:
alive to the travails of a litigant and if the legal
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assistance is not adequate, it has a duty to provide
quality legal assistance to the litigants, whether it be
a victim or an accused. We also notice that none
appeared for the appellant, when the matter was
posted before Court, then an Amicus or an Advocate
from the Legal Services Authority should have been
appointed.
6. In the totality of the circumstances as also
considering the minimal delay occasioned, we are of
the opinion that the High Court should hear the
matter on merits.
7. We set aside the order of the High Court and
restore the appeal to its files. We request the High
Court to hear the matter on its merits.
8. The appeals are allowed.
9. Pending application(s), if any, shall stand
disposed of.
.......…….……………………. J.
(J. B. PARDIWALA)
....……….……………………. J.
(K. VINOD CHANDRAN)
NEW DELHI;
AUGUST 25, 2026.
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