The High Court of Judicature at Allahabad clarified the scope of Section 216 of the Code of Criminal Procedure, holding that neither the complainant nor the accused has any legal right to seek alteration or addition of charges, as this power is exclusively vested in the court. The case arose when the complainant filed an application under Section 216 Cr.P.C. seeking addition of POCSO charges against the accused after the chargesheet had been filed and evidence concluded. The trial court allowed the application, prompting the accused to challenge the order. Allowing the revision, the High Court emphasized that Section 216 Cr.P.C. is an enabling provision for the court alone, permitting it to alter or add charges suo motu at any stage before pronouncement of judgment, based on the material on record. The provision does not create any vested or enforceable right in favour of the prosecution, complainant, or accused to demand such alteration through an application. The Court reasoned that permitting party-driven applications under Section 216 would encourage repeated litigation, delay trials, and undermine the principle of a speedy trial. The correct procedure is for the court itself to assess the evidence and decide whether alteration of charges is necessary. Accordingly, the trial court’s order entertaining the complainant’s application was held to be legally unsustainable and was set aside.