Supreme Court Expands Victim Definition in Criminal Revisions

On 19th December 2025, in a landmark judgment, the Supreme Court (SC) clarified that criminal revision proceedings filed by an informant or complainant do not automatically abate after their death.

  • The ruling came in the case of Syed Shahnawaz Ali v. State of Madhya Pradesh & Ors., where the High Court had dismissed a criminal revision petition after the death of the informant.
  • The Supreme Court overturned this, restoring the petition for fresh consideration.

Supreme Court’s Key Observations

  • Revisions vs Appeals: Unlike appeals, which abate under Section 394 CrPC, revisions have no statutory provision for abatement.
  • Victim Rights: Victims of crime, including ....
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