Can a senior customs officer challenge a conviction that rests on a presumption of guilt after an acquittal of dishonest misappropriation?

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Suppose a senior customs officer, who has been in service for over two decades, is found to possess a bank balance and several properties that far exceed the salary and allowances normally associated with his rank. The investigating agency files an FIR alleging that the officer, while on duty, dishonestly appropriated seized contraband and converted it into personal wealth. The charge‑sheet frames the offence under the Anti‑Corruption Act, specifically the provision dealing with dishonest misappropriation of property entrusted to a public servant. The officer is tried before a Special Judge, who, after examining the documentary evidence, acquits him of the dishonest misappropriation charge because the prosecution fails to prove a direct link between the seized items and the officer’s personal accounts.

Despite the acquittal on the substantive charge, the Special Judge proceeds to convict the officer under a different clause of the same anti‑corruption provision, relying solely on the presumption that a public servant possessing assets disproportionate to his known sources must have acquired them through illicit means. The judge records that the officer “cannot satisfactorily account for the excess wealth” and therefore applies the statutory presumption of guilt, imposing a term of rigorous imprisonment and a fine. The conviction is affirmed by the appellate court of the state, which reduces the sentence but upholds the conviction, reasoning that the presumption operates independently of the specific charge that was tried.

The officer’s legal counsel argues that the presumption of guilt is an evidential rule that may be invoked only in relation to the specific category of misconduct that was actually charged and proved at trial. Since the officer was acquitted of the dishonest misappropriation allegation, the court cannot lawfully substitute a different category of criminal misconduct—such as habitual acceptance of illegal gratification—without a fresh charge and trial. This contention raises a fundamental procedural problem: whether a conviction can be sustained on the basis of a statutory presumption when the underlying substantive offence has been cleared by the trial court.

At the trial stage, the officer’s defence focused on factual explanations for his assets, presenting bank statements, inheritance documents, and investment records. While these explanations were sufficient to defeat the specific misappropriation allegation, they did not address the broader presumption that the court later invoked. Consequently, a purely factual defence was inadequate to overturn the conviction, because the appellate court’s reasoning rested on an evidential presumption rather than on any disputed fact. The officer therefore requires a higher‑order remedy that can scrutinise the legal validity of the presumption’s application.

The appropriate procedural route is a revision petition under the Criminal Procedure Code, filed before the Punjab and Haryana High Court. A revision allows the High Court to examine whether the lower courts have exercised jurisdiction correctly and whether any legal error—such as the misapplication of a statutory presumption—has occurred. By invoking the revision jurisdiction, the officer seeks a declaration that the conviction is unsustainable because the presumption of guilt cannot be applied to a charge that has already been acquitted.

To prepare the petition, the officer engages a lawyer in Punjab and Haryana High Court who specializes in criminal‑law procedural challenges. The counsel drafts a detailed memorandum highlighting the statutory scheme of the Anti‑Corruption Act, emphasizing that the presumption provision is a rule of evidence and not a substantive offence. The petition argues that the High Court must intervene to prevent the lower courts from effectively creating a new charge post‑hoc, which would contravene the principles of fair trial and the doctrine of double jeopardy.

The petition also cites precedent from the Supreme Court, which held that a presumption of guilt may be invoked only in respect of a charge that has been duly framed and proved. By aligning the officer’s situation with that authority, the petition demonstrates that the conviction rests on an impermissible legal construction. The revision seeks quashing of the conviction, remission of the sentence, and a direction that any further proceedings must be initiated afresh, with a properly framed charge if the prosecution wishes to rely on the presumption.

During the hearing, the lawyer in Chandigarh High Court representing the prosecution argues that the presumption is a statutory safeguard designed to combat corruption and that the High Court should defer to the trial judge’s discretion. However, the officer’s counsel counters that discretion is limited by the requirement that the presumption be linked to a specific, proven category of misconduct. The debate centers on the interpretation of the anti‑corruption statute and the permissible scope of evidential presumptions.

The Punjab and Haryana High Court, after hearing oral arguments, examines the statutory language, the trial record, and the relevant Supreme Court pronouncements. It concludes that the conviction cannot stand because the presumption was applied to a category of misconduct that was never charged or proved. The court therefore issues an order quashing the conviction, setting aside the imprisonment term, and directing the investigating agency to either withdraw the FIR or re‑file it with a fresh charge sheet if new evidence emerges.

This outcome illustrates why the ordinary factual defence at trial was insufficient: the conviction hinged on a legal error rather than on disputed facts. By filing a revision petition before the Punjab and Haryana High Court, the officer accessed a remedy that directly addresses the misuse of statutory presumptions, ensuring that the legal process respects the boundaries of charge framing and evidential rules.

In practice, lawyers in Punjab and Haryana High Court often advise clients in similar circumstances to pursue revision or writ petitions when lower courts appear to expand the scope of an offence beyond what was originally charged. The officer’s case serves as a template for challenging convictions that rely on presumptions detached from proven allegations, reinforcing the principle that a presumption of guilt is not a substitute for substantive proof.

Ultimately, the High Court’s decision restores the balance between anti‑corruption enforcement and the rights of the accused, confirming that statutory presumptions must be applied within the confines of the charges framed at trial. The officer, now cleared of the conviction, can seek reinstatement in service and pursue any civil remedies for the damages suffered during his wrongful incarceration.

Question: Can a court sustain a conviction on the basis of a statutory presumption of guilt when the accused has already been acquitted of the substantive offence that was originally charged?

Answer: The factual matrix presents a senior customs officer who was acquitted by a Special Judge of the dishonest misappropriation allegation because the prosecution could not establish a direct link between the seized contraband and his personal accounts. Despite this acquittal, the trial judge invoked the anti‑corruption statute’s presumption that a public servant possessing assets disproportionate to known sources must have acquired them illicitly, and convicted the officer under a different clause of the same provision. The legal problem centers on whether the presumption, which is an evidential rule, may be applied to a category of misconduct that was never charged or proved. Jurisprudence holds that a presumption of guilt is not a substantive offence; it merely shifts the evidential burden in cases where the charge falls within the enumerated categories of the statute and where that charge survives at trial. Because the officer’s acquittal eliminated the substantive element of dishonest misappropriation, the court lacked a factual foundation to attach the presumption to any other uncharged category such as habitual acceptance of gratification. Applying the presumption to a different category would amount to creating a new charge post‑hoc, violating the principle that an accused cannot be convicted of an offence that was not properly framed and proved. Procedurally, this misapplication is a legal error that can be reviewed by a higher court. The implication for the accused is that the conviction is vulnerable to being set aside, while the prosecution’s reliance on the presumption without a supporting substantive finding is untenable. A revision petition before the Punjab and Haryana High Court, filed by a lawyer in Punjab and Haryana High Court, can therefore seek quashing of the conviction on the ground that the statutory presumption was applied beyond its permissible scope, preserving the accused’s right to a fair trial and preventing double jeopardy.

Question: What is the scope of the revision jurisdiction of the Punjab and Haryana High Court when an accused challenges a conviction that allegedly rests on a misapplied statutory presumption?

Answer: Revision jurisdiction under the criminal procedural framework empowers the High Court to examine whether subordinate courts have exercised jurisdiction correctly and whether any legal error has occurred that affects the validity of the judgment. In the present scenario, the officer’s conviction was predicated on a presumption of guilt that the trial judge applied after an acquittal on the substantive charge. The legal issue is not a question of fact but a question of law: whether the presumption can be invoked absent a proven category of misconduct. The High Court’s revision power includes the authority to quash a judgment if it finds that the lower court misinterpreted the statutory scheme, exceeded its jurisdiction, or committed a procedural irregularity that resulted in an unlawful conviction. The officer, through a lawyer in Punjab and Haryana High Court, can argue that the Special Judge’s reliance on the presumption created a new basis for conviction, violating the doctrine of double jeopardy and the principle that evidential presumptions must be tied to the charge proved at trial. The High Court will review the trial record, the language of the anti‑corruption statute, and relevant precedents to determine whether the presumption was lawfully applied. If the court concludes that the presumption was misapplied, it can issue a writ of certiorari to set aside the conviction, remit the case for fresh proceedings, or direct the investigating agency to withdraw the FIR. The practical implication for the prosecution is that any further attempt to rely on the same presumption must be anchored to a properly framed charge, while the accused stands to have the conviction erased and may seek reinstatement in service. Thus, the revision jurisdiction serves as a vital safeguard against legal overreach in criminal convictions.

Question: How does the doctrine of double jeopardy protect the customs officer in this case where a different statutory clause was used to convict him after an acquittal?

Answer: Double jeopardy, a cornerstone of criminal law, bars the State from subjecting an individual to multiple prosecutions or punishments for the same offence after an acquittal. The officer was initially tried and acquitted of dishonest misappropriation, the specific offence alleged in the FIR. The subsequent conviction under a different clause of the anti‑corruption provision relied solely on a statutory presumption, without any new factual allegation or separate charge. Legally, the doctrine prevents the State from re‑characterising the same conduct as a different offence after the accused has been cleared of the original charge. The High Court, when assessing the revision petition, will examine whether the new conviction constitutes a second punishment for the same conduct. Since the presumption was applied to infer guilt of a category of misconduct that was never charged, the conviction effectively penalises the officer for the same alleged wrongdoing that was already adjudicated. This contravenes the protection against double jeopardy, as the State cannot bypass an acquittal by invoking a different statutory provision to achieve a conviction for the same act. The officer’s counsel, a lawyer in Chandigarh High Court, can therefore argue that the conviction is unconstitutional and must be set aside. The practical outcome is that the High Court, respecting the double jeopardy principle, is likely to quash the conviction, ensuring that the accused is not subjected to multiple punishments for the same alleged act. This reinforces the integrity of the criminal justice system and safeguards individuals from prosecutorial overreach.

Question: What procedural steps must the officer’s counsel follow to successfully invoke the presumption of guilt only within its proper statutory limits during the revision proceedings?

Answer: To ensure that the presumption of guilt is confined to its legitimate scope, the officer’s counsel, a lawyer in Punjab and Haryana High Court, must meticulously structure the revision petition. First, the petition must clearly set out the factual background, highlighting the acquittal on the substantive charge and the subsequent reliance on the presumption to sustain a conviction under a different clause. Second, the counsel must argue that the presumption is a rule of evidence applicable only when the charge falls within one of the enumerated categories of the anti‑corruption statute and when that charge has been proved at trial. The petition should cite authoritative precedents that delineate this limitation, demonstrating that the presumption cannot create a new basis for conviction. Third, the counsel must request that the High Court examine the statutory language, the trial judge’s reasoning, and the appellate court’s affirmation to determine whether a legal error occurred. The relief sought should include quashing the conviction, setting aside the sentence, and directing the investigating agency to either withdraw the FIR or re‑file it with a fresh charge sheet if new evidence emerges. Additionally, the counsel should emphasize the procedural safeguards, such as the right to a fair trial and protection against double jeopardy, to reinforce the argument that the conviction is unsustainable. By adhering to these procedural steps, the lawyer in Chandigarh High Court ensures that the High Court’s review focuses on the legal misapplication rather than factual disputes, increasing the likelihood of a favorable outcome for the accused.

Question: If the Punjab and Haryana High Court quashes the conviction, what further legal remedies are available to the officer to address the consequences of his wrongful imprisonment?

Answer: A quashing order from the Punjab and Haryana High Court eliminates the criminal conviction and the associated sentence, but it does not automatically reverse the collateral consequences suffered by the officer during his incarceration. To obtain redress for wrongful imprisonment, the officer may pursue a civil claim for damages against the State, asserting that the conviction was based on a legal error and that he endured loss of liberty, reputation, and potential loss of service benefits. The officer’s lawyer in Chandigarh High Court can file a suit for compensation under the provisions governing wrongful detention, seeking monetary restitution for loss of earnings, mental anguish, and damage to career prospects. Additionally, the officer may request reinstatement to his previous position in the customs service, arguing that the quashed conviction removes the legal bar to his employment. If the service has already taken punitive action, such as suspension or termination, the officer can approach the appropriate administrative tribunal or the High Court for a writ of certiorari to set aside those actions. Moreover, the officer may seek a formal apology or a declaration of innocence from the investigating agency to restore his professional standing. These remedies collectively aim to mitigate the personal and professional impact of the wrongful conviction, ensuring that the officer receives full vindication and appropriate compensation for the injustice endured.

Question: Does the officer have a viable avenue to challenge the conviction by filing a revision petition before the Punjab and Haryana High Court, and what legal basis supports the High Court’s jurisdiction in this circumstance?

Answer: The officer’s conviction, rendered by a Special Judge and affirmed by the appellate court, rests on the application of a statutory presumption of guilt that was invoked after an acquittal on the substantive charge. This creates a distinct legal error that is amenable to correction through the revision jurisdiction of the Punjab and Haryana High Court. Revision is a supervisory remedy that enables the High Court to examine whether a subordinate court has exceeded its jurisdiction, misapplied law, or committed a patent procedural irregularity. In the present facts, the trial judge substituted a different category of criminal misconduct without a fresh charge, thereby contravening the principle that a presumption of guilt may be employed only in relation to a charge that has been duly framed and proved. The High Court, as the apex judicial authority in the state, possesses the power to quash a conviction that is legally untenable, even if the lower courts have rendered a substantive finding. The officer’s counsel, a lawyer in Punjab and Haryana High Court, will draft a revision petition that sets out the factual matrix, highlights the misapplication of the presumption, and cites precedent where the Supreme Court held that such presumptions are evidential rules, not substantive bases for conviction. By invoking the revision route, the officer seeks a declaration that the conviction is void, remission of the sentence, and an order directing the investigating agency either to withdraw the FIR or to re‑file it with a proper charge sheet. The High Court’s supervisory role ensures that the legal boundaries of charge framing and evidential presumptions are respected, thereby providing a robust procedural remedy beyond ordinary appeals. This avenue is particularly appropriate because the error is not merely factual but doctrinal, requiring the High Court’s interpretative authority to safeguard the accused’s right to a fair trial.

Question: Why is a revision petition more appropriate than a fresh bail application at this stage, and how does the procedural distinction affect the officer’s chances of relief?

Answer: A bail application is a remedial measure aimed at securing temporary liberty pending the final determination of the case, and it is predicated on the existence of a pending trial or appeal where the accused remains in custody. In the officer’s situation, the conviction has already been affirmed, and the only remaining avenue to challenge the legal foundation of that conviction is to attack the judgment itself. A bail petition would not address the core defect—the improper reliance on a statutory presumption after an acquittal—and therefore would likely be dismissed as premature or irrelevant. Conversely, a revision petition directly confronts the legal error by seeking a supervisory review of the lower courts’ exercise of jurisdiction. The procedural distinction is crucial: while bail focuses on personal liberty, revision targets the validity of the conviction. By filing a revision, the officer’s counsel, a lawyer in Punjab and Haryana High Court, can argue that the conviction is void ab initio, rendering any bail consideration moot. Moreover, the High Court’s power to quash the conviction can automatically result in the officer’s release, achieving both substantive and procedural relief in a single step. The officer’s chances of success are therefore enhanced by pursuing revision, as it aligns with the nature of the grievance—misapplication of law—rather than merely seeking temporary release. This strategic choice also conserves judicial resources by avoiding parallel proceedings and ensures that the final order, if favorable, will eradicate the legal stain of the conviction, allowing the officer to pursue reinstatement and any civil redress for damages incurred during incarceration.

Question: What motivates an accused or petitioner to seek out lawyers in Chandigarh High Court, and how does the location of the Punjab and Haryana High Court influence the selection of counsel?

Answer: The Punjab and Haryana High Court is seated in Chandigarh, making the city the natural hub for legal practitioners who regularly appear before the bench. An accused or petitioner, such as the senior customs officer, will therefore look for lawyers in Chandigarh High Court because these advocates possess intimate knowledge of the court’s procedural nuances, the preferences of its judges, and the local bar’s customs. This localized expertise is indispensable when drafting a revision petition that must navigate complex evidential presumptions and articulate precise legal arguments. Lawyers in Chandigarh High Court are also well‑versed in the administrative mechanisms of the High Court, such as filing fees, case management orders, and the electronic filing system, which can affect the timeliness and admissibility of the petition. Furthermore, the proximity to the High Court enables counsel to attend oral arguments promptly, engage in pre‑hearing conferences, and respond swiftly to any interim orders. The officer’s decision to retain a lawyer in Punjab and Haryana High Court is therefore driven by practical considerations: the need for an advocate who can effectively present the case before the specific judges, who understands the High Court’s docket, and who can leverage local precedents that may be persuasive. This strategic selection enhances the likelihood of a favorable outcome, as the counsel can tailor arguments to the court’s jurisprudential trends, anticipate procedural objections, and ensure that the petition complies with all formal requirements. In sum, the geographical seat of the High Court directly shapes the counsel‑selection process, making lawyers in Chandigarh High Court the preferred choice for litigants seeking high‑level judicial intervention.

Question: Why was the factual defence presented at trial insufficient to overturn the conviction, and how does the High Court’s review of legal error differ from a re‑examination of the evidence?

Answer: At trial, the officer’s defence focused on explaining the source of his assets through bank statements, inheritance documents, and investment records, thereby satisfying the evidential burden for the specific charge of dishonest misappropriation. However, the Special Judge later invoked a statutory presumption of guilt to sustain a conviction on a different category of misconduct that had never been charged. This shift transformed the dispute from a factual one—whether the officer possessed undisclosed wealth—to a legal one—whether the presumption can be applied absent a proved charge. Because the conviction hinged on the legal interpretation of the presumption, the factual defence could not address the core issue; the judge’s reasoning did not rely on disputed facts but on an alleged statutory right to infer guilt. The High Court’s revisionary function is to scrutinise such legal errors, not to re‑weigh the evidence. A revision petition asks the High Court to examine whether the lower courts correctly applied the law, particularly the principle that a presumption of guilt is an evidential rule limited to charges that have been framed and proved. The High Court, through a lawyer in Punjab and Haryana High Court, will assess the statutory scheme, relevant Supreme Court pronouncements, and the procedural propriety of the conviction, without re‑evaluating the bank statements or inheritance documents. This distinction is vital because the remedy sought is the quashing of a judgment that is legally unsound, not a retrial on factual grounds. By focusing on the misapplication of law, the High Court can declare the conviction void, thereby rendering any factual defence moot. This approach underscores why the officer must pursue a higher‑order remedy that addresses the legal flaw rather than attempting to re‑argue the factual narrative that was already accepted at trial.

Question: What procedural avenue offers the strongest chance of overturning the conviction that was based solely on the statutory presumption of guilt, and what specific documents and evidential material must the accused assemble before approaching a lawyer in Punjab and Haryana High Court?

Answer: The most effective procedural tool in the present circumstances is a revision petition filed under the criminal procedural code before the Punjab and Haryana High Court, because the conviction was rendered on a legal error rather than on disputed facts. A revision allows the High Court to examine whether the lower courts exercised jurisdiction correctly and whether any legal principle was misapplied, which is precisely the issue with the presumption being invoked after an acquittal on the substantive charge. To prepare a robust petition, the accused must compile the original FIR, the charge‑sheet, the trial court’s judgment of acquittal on the dishonest misappropriation allegation, and the appellate judgment that affirmed the conviction on the presumption. In addition, a complete financial dossier is essential: bank statements covering the period of alleged illicit gain, property title deeds, inheritance documents, investment certificates, and any affidavits that were tendered at trial to explain the wealth. The petition should also attach the statutory provision of the anti‑corruption act that creates the presumption, highlighting its character as an evidential rule and not a substantive offence. A certified copy of the special judge’s order that convicted on the presumption, together with the appellate court’s reasoning, must be annexed to demonstrate the legal inconsistency. The revision must articulate that the presumption may be invoked only in respect of a charge that has been framed and proved, and that the trial court’s substitution of a different category of misconduct violates the doctrine of double jeopardy and the right to a fair trial. The lawyer in Punjab and Haryana High Court will use these documents to draft a memorandum of points and authorities, citing Supreme Court precedent that limits the scope of the presumption. By presenting a comprehensive factual and legal record, the accused maximises the chance that the High Court will quash the conviction, set aside the sentence, and direct the investigating agency either to withdraw the FIR or to re‑file a fresh charge sheet if new evidence emerges.

Question: How can the defence challenge the legal validity of the presumption of guilt when it was applied to a different category of misconduct than the one originally charged, and what arguments should lawyers in Chandigarh High Court prioritize in their oral submissions?

Answer: The defence must centre its challenge on the principle that a statutory presumption of guilt is a rule of evidence that can be invoked only in relation to the specific category of criminal misconduct that has been formally charged and proved at trial. The argument should begin by establishing that the trial court acquitted the accused of the dishonest misappropriation offence, thereby eliminating any factual basis for the presumption in that context. Next, the defence must demonstrate that the appellate court’s reliance on a broader, uncharged category—such as habitual acceptance of illegal gratification—constitutes an impermissible expansion of the charge, effectively creating a new offence post‑hoc, which contravenes the constitutional guarantee of a fair trial and the doctrine of double jeopardy. Lawyers in Chandigarh High Court should emphasize the textual hierarchy of the anti‑corruption statute, showing that the presumption clause is expressly linked to the enumerated categories of misconduct and cannot be detached to fabricate a new ground for conviction. They should also cite Supreme Court authority that a presumption cannot substitute for substantive proof when the underlying offence has been cleared. In oral submissions, the counsel must request that the High Court scrutinise the trial record for any evidence that directly ties the accused’s assets to the specific misappropriation charge; the absence of such evidence underscores the legal error. Additionally, the defence should argue that the presumption, even if applicable, imposes a heavy evidential burden on the accused, which was not satisfied by the explanations presented at trial, and that the court cannot shift that burden after acquittal. By focusing on these doctrinal points, the lawyers in Chandigarh High Court can persuade the bench that the conviction rests on a misapplication of the evidential rule, warranting its reversal and the restoration of the accused’s liberty.

Question: What are the risks of continued custody or re‑arrest for the accused while the revision petition is pending, and how should the defence counsel mitigate those risks through interim relief applications?

Answer: Even after the trial court’s acquittal on the primary charge, the conviction under the presumption leaves the accused vulnerable to continued detention, especially if the investigating agency seeks to enforce the sentence or initiate fresh proceedings on a new charge. The principal risk is that the prison authorities may interpret the affirmed conviction as a basis for maintaining custody, leading to an unlawful deprivation of liberty while the revision is under consideration. To mitigate this, the defence counsel should promptly file an application for bail pending the outcome of the revision, invoking the principle that the accused is entitled to liberty unless a court finds a prima facie case. The bail application must highlight that the conviction is predicated on a legal error, that the accused has already served a portion of the sentence, and that the presumption was misapplied, thereby rendering the conviction unsustainable. Additionally, the counsel can move for a stay of execution of the sentence, requesting that the High Court suspend any enforcement until it decides the revision. The application should be supported by the trial judgment of acquittal, the appellate order, and the revision petition itself, demonstrating that the matter is actively before the High Court. A lawyer in Chandigarh High Court can argue that continued custody would amount to punitive action without a valid legal foundation, violating the right to personal liberty. If the court grants bail, the defence must ensure that the accused complies with any conditions, such as surrendering the passport, to avoid revocation. By securing interim relief, the defence not only protects the accused from further incarceration but also preserves the status quo, allowing the revision to be decided on its merits without the cloud of ongoing detention.

Question: Assuming the conviction is quashed, what strategic steps should the accused pursue to obtain reinstatement in service and claim compensation for the period of wrongful imprisonment, and what role do lawyers in Punjab and Haryana High Court play in coordinating these parallel criminal and civil remedies?

Answer: Once the Punjab and Haryana High Court sets aside the conviction, the accused can move to restore his professional standing and seek redress for the damages suffered. The first step is to file a petition for reinstatement with the department’s disciplinary authority, attaching the High Court order that nullifies the conviction and demonstrating that the officer has no pending criminal liability. The petition should request that the officer be placed back in his previous rank, with back‑pay for the period of suspension, and that any disciplinary penalties imposed on the basis of the conviction be expunged. Simultaneously, the accused may initiate a civil suit for compensation, claiming loss of earnings, reputational harm, and mental anguish resulting from the wrongful incarceration. Lawyers in Punjab and Haryana High Court will coordinate these parallel tracks by ensuring that the criminal relief is leveraged to strengthen the civil claim; the quashing order serves as conclusive evidence that the prosecution’s case was untenable. The counsel should also seek a writ of certiorari or mandamus, if necessary, to compel the department to act on the reinstatement petition within a reasonable time, citing the High Court’s judgment as a mandatory directive. In the compensation suit, the lawyer will present the financial statements, service records, and medical reports to quantify the loss, while also invoking jurisprudence that holds the state liable for wrongful detention. Moreover, the defence may request that the investigating agency reimburse legal expenses incurred during the trial and revision, arguing that the agency’s misapplication of the presumption caused the injustice. By orchestrating both criminal and civil strategies, the lawyers in Punjab and Haryana High Court ensure that the accused not only regains his position but also receives appropriate monetary redress for the period of wrongful imprisonment.