Criminal appeal dismissed as infructuous after the convict completed the imposed sentence.

The appellant, the sole accused, was convicted by the Magalir Neethimandram (Fast Track Mahila Court), Tiruppur, in Special S.C. No. 43 of 2019 for an offence under Section 9(m) read with Section 10 of the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act, 2012, and was sentenced to seven years’ rigorous imprisonment and a fine of ₹10,000.

He had been arrested and remanded to judicial custody on 21 September 2019, was not released on bail during trial, and his sentence was not suspended after conviction.

During the pendency of the appeal, the State confirmed that he had served the sentence and was released from Central Prison, Coimbatore, on 15 May 2025.

Whether the criminal appeal required further adjudication after the appellant had served the entire sentence imposed by the Trial Court and had been released from prison.

Whether any relief could be granted in the appeal in the circumstances, notwithstanding the appellant’s completion of the custodial sentence.

The appeal was instituted under Section 374(2) of the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973, against the judgment of conviction.

The conviction and sentence were recorded under Sections 9(m) and 10 of the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act, 2012.

The Court applied the procedural principle that where an appellant has fully served the sentence under challenge and has been released, and no surviving relief or controversy remains for determination, the pending appeal may be dismissed as no longer requiring adjudication.

The Court noted that the appellant had remained in custody from 21 September 2019, had not obtained bail or suspension of sentence, and had completed the seven-year custodial sentence imposed by the Trial Court.

The respondent’s confirmation, based on prison records, established that the appellant had been released on 15 May 2025.

Since the sentence had already been fully served, the Court held that there was no surviving practical relief requiring consideration in the pending appeal and therefore no further adjudication was warranted.

Accordingly, Criminal Appeal No. 1207 of 2022 was dismissed.