State Of Punjab And Anr vs Rajesh Syal

The Supreme Court held that the High Court's decision to transfer multiple cases against the respondent to a single court was erroneous, as the provisions of Sections 218 and 220 of the Criminal Procedure Code, 1973 do not permit consolidation of cases tried before different Magistrates. The Court clarified that the proviso to Section 218 applies only when distinct offences are tried before the same Magistrate, and Section 220 pertains to offences arising from the same transaction. Consequently, the Court set aside the High Court's order, emphasizing the need for separate trials for distinct offences.