Effect of premature cognisance

The complaint was presented two days after the prescribed period. The Magistrate took cognisance on the day it was filed. At that time, delay had not been condoned. A successor Magistrate later allowed the delay to be contested. The delay was condoned by an order dated 30 October 2018. The Supreme Court held that the later order did not validate the earlier cognisance. The chronology was decisive to the appeal. The complaint could not continue on that basis. (S. Nagesh v. Shobha S. Aradhya | 2026 INSC 27)