MADAN LAL KAPOOR vs RAJIV THAPAR .

The Supreme Court held that a criminal matter cannot be dismissed for default and must be decided on merits, emphasizing the importance of a reasoned order in criminal proceedings. The Court set aside the Delhi High Court's order dismissing the Criminal Revision Petition for non-prosecution, citing a previous ruling that mandated a merits-based decision. The appeal was allowed, and the matter was remitted back to the High Court for a timely resolution, preferably within four months.