New Delhi, Nov. 28 -- The Supreme Court has sharply criticised the conduct of an appellate court, calling its approach "appalling and shocking" while ordering the immediate release of the petitioner, namely Meenakshi, who was taken into custody in a cheque-bounce case despite suspension of sentence.

A Bench of Justice Aravind Kumar and Justice NV Anjaria said the appellate court had adopted an unjustified course by insisting on the petitioner's personal presence on every date of hearing and cancelling her bail, even though her sentence had already been suspended.

"Prima facie, the course open for the appellate court was to either appoint an amicus curiae and hear the appeal or grant the appellant time to make alternate arrangements if c...