Raj Kapoor v. State of Punjab and Another

-1-o INoTHEoHIGHoCOURToOFoPUNJABoANDoHARYANAo AToCHANDIGARHo o Reservedoon:o17.03.2023o DateoofoPronouncement:o27.03.2023 o RajoKapooro ......Petitionero o Versuso o o StateoofoPunjaboandoanothero ......Respondents

CORAM:oHON'BLEoMR.oJUSTICEoNAMIToKUMARo o Arguedoby:o-oMs.oAynaoVasudeva,oAdvocate,o o o forotheopetitioner.o o o o Mr.oAnupoSingh,oAAG,oPunjab.o o o o Mr.oParasoJagga,oAdvocate,o o o fororespondentoNo.2.o o NAMIToKUMAR,oJ.o o o ThisopetitionohasobeenofiledobyotheopetitionerounderoSectiono 482oCr.P.C.oseekingoissuanceoofodirectionotoolearnedoJudicialoMagistrateo Firsto Class,o Ludhiana,o ino theo proceedingso ofo complainto caseo No.COMA/12928/2018o datedo 20.09.2018o CNRo No.PBLD030666412018otitledo'RajoKapoorov.oSuniloChandraoBalooni'o foro decidingo theo sameo ino ao time-boundo mannero preferablyo withino ao periodoofosixomonths.o o o Briefofactsoofotheocaseoareothatopetitionerofiledoaocomplainto underoSectiono138oofotheoNegotiableoInstrumentsoAct,o1881o(foroshorto 'theo NIo Act')o againsto respondento No.2o ono theo groundo thato heo waso engagedobyorespondentoNo.2oforoconstructionoofoareaoownedobyohim.oo

-2-o Respondento No.2o issuedo someo chequeso foro dischargeo ofo hiso legalo liabilityotowardsotheopetitionerowithotheoassuranceothatotheochequesowillo beoencashedoafteropresentationoinotheobank.ooHowever,owhenotheochequeo wasopresentedobyotheopetitionerotoohisobanker,osameowasodishonoured.oo Thereafter,opetitionerosentolegalonoticeotoorespondentoNo.2othroughohiso counseloandoafterostipulatedotimeocomplaintounderoSectiono138oofotheoNIo Actowasofiledobyotheopetitioner.ooAfteroissuanceoofonotice,orespondento No.2owasograntedobailobyotheotrialoCourtoono29.01.2019.ooThereafter,o noticeoofoaccusationowasoservedouponorespondentoNo.2.ooPetitioneroalsoo filedoapplicationoforoassessingoandopaymentoofointerimocompensationo underoSectiono143-AoofotheoNIoAct.o o o InospiteoofoserviceouponorespondentoNo.2,ononeohasoputoino appearanceoonohisobehalf.o o o Learnedocounseloforotheopetitionerocontendedothatopresento complaintounderoSectiono138oofotheoNIoActoisopendingoforotheolastomoreo thanofouroyearsoandoasoperoSectiono143oofotheoNIoActotheocomplaintofiledo underoSectiono138oofotheoNIoActoisotreatedoasosummaryotrialoandoitoshallo beodisposedoofowithinoaoperiodoofotwooyears.ooHeofurtherosubmitsothatoino theopresentocaseonooeffectiveoproceedingsoareobeingotakenoandotheosameo iso beingo intentionallyo ando deliberatelyo delayedo byo respondento No.2.oo Thus,oheoseeksodirectionsofromothisoCourtoforodecidingotheocomplaintoino aotime-boundomanner.o o o Iohaveoheardolearnedocounseloforotheopartiesoandoperusedo

-3-o o o Speedyotrialoinoallocriminalopersecutionsoisoanoinalienableo righto undero Articleo 21o ofo theo Constitutiono ando noto confinedo too anyo particularocategoryoofocases.ooInoeveryocaseowhereotheorightotoospeedyo trialoisoallegedotoohaveobeenoinfringed,otheoCourtohasotooperformotheo balancingo acto upono takingo intoo considerationo allo theo attendingo circumstances,oandodetermineoinoeachocaseowhetherotheorightotoospeedyo trialohasobeenodeniedoinoaogivenocaseooronot.ooWhereotheoCourtocomesotoo theoconclusionothatorightotoospeedyotrialohasobeenoinfringed,oitowouldobeo openotootheoCourtotoomakeoanoappropriateoordersoasoitomayodeemojusto andoequitable,oincludingofixationoofotimeoforoconclusionoofotrial.o o o TheoConstitutionoBenchoofotheoHon'bleoSupremeoCourtoino AbduloRehmanoAntulayov.oR.S.oNayak,o1992(2)oRCRo(Criminal)o634o hasoframedoguidelinesowithoregardotoospeedyotrialsoandoparao86oofotheo saidojudgmentoreadsoasounder:o-o "86.o Ino viewo ofo theo aboveo discussion,o theo followingo propositionso emerge,o meanto too serveo aso guidelines.o Weo mustoforewarnothatotheseopropositionsoareonotoexhaustive.o Itoisodifficultotooforeseeoallosituations.oNoroisoitopossibleotoo layodownoanyohardoandofastorules.oTheseopropositionsoare:oo

1.oFair,ojustoandoreasonableoprocedureoimplicitoinoArticleo 21oofotheoConstitutionocreatesoaorightoinotheoaccusedotoobeo triedo speedily.o Righto too speedyo trialo iso theo righto ofo theo accused.o Theo facto thato ao speedyo trialo iso alsoo ino publico interestoorothatoitoservesotheosocialointerestoalso,odoesonoto makeoitoanyotheolessotheorightoofotheoaccused.oItoisoinotheo interestoofoalloconcernedothatotheoguiltooroinnocenceoofo theoaccusedoisodeterminedoasoquicklyoasopossibleoinotheo

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2.o Righto too speedyo trialo flowingo fromo Articleo 21o encompasseso allo theo stages,o namelyo theo stageo ofo investigation,oinquiry,otrial,oappeal,orevisionoandore-trial.o Thatoisohow,othisoCourtohasounderstoodothisorightoandothereo isonooreasonotootakeoaorestrictedoview.oo

3.oTheoconcernsounderlyingotheorightotoospeedyotrialofromo theopointoofoviewoofotheoaccusedoareo:o

(a)o theo periodo ofo remando ando pre-convictiono detentionoshouldobeoasoshortoasopossible.oInoothero words,o theo accusedo shouldo noto beo subjectedo too unnecessaryooroundulyolongoincarcerationopriorotoo hisoconviction;oo

(b)otheoworry,oanxiety,oexpenseoandodisturbanceotoo hiso vocationo ando peace,o resultingo fromo ano undulyo prolongedoinvestigation,oinquiryoorotrialoshouldobeo minimal;oandoo

(c)oundueodelayomayowelloresultoinoimpairmentoofotheo abilityoofotheoaccusedotoodefendohimself,owhetheroono accountoofodeath,odisappearanceooronon-oavailabilityo ofowitnessesoorootherwise.oo

4.oAtotheosameotime,ooneocannotoignoreotheofactothatoitoiso usuallyo theo accusedo whoo iso interestedo ino delayingo theo proceedings.oAsoisooftenopointedoout,o"delayoisoaoknowno defenceotactic".oSinceotheoburdenoofoprovingotheoguiltoofotheo accusedo lieso upono theo prosecution,o delayo ordinarilyo prejudicesotheoprosecution.oNon-availabilityoofowitnesses,o disappearanceoofoevidenceobyolapseoofotimeoreallyoworko againstotheointerestoofotheoprosecution.oOfocourse,othereo mayobeocasesowhereotheoprosecution,oforowhateveroreason,o alsoo delayso theo proceedings.o Therefore,o ino everyo case,o whereo theo righto too speedyo trialo iso allegedo too haveo beeno infringed,otheofirstoquestionotoobeoputoandoansweredoiso-o whooisoresponsibleoforotheodelay?oProceedingsotakenobyo RAVINDER SINGH eithero partyo ino goodo faith,o too vindicateo theiro rightso ando

-5-o interest,o aso perceivedo byo them,o cannoto beo treatedo aso delayingotacticsonorocanotheotimeotakenoinopursuingosucho proceedingso beo countedo towardso delay.o Ito goeso withouto sayingo thato frivolouso proceedingso oro proceedingso takeno merelyoforodelayingotheodayooforeckoningocannotobeotreatedo asoproceedingsotakenoinogoodofaith.oTheomereofactothatoano application/petitiono iso admittedo ando ano ordero ofo stayo grantedobyoaosuperiorocourtoisobyoitselfonooproofothatotheo proceedingo iso noto frivolous.o Veryo ofteno theseo stayso areo obtainedoonoexparteorepresentation.oo

5.oWhileodeterminingowhetheroundueodelayohasooccurredo (resultingoinoviolationoofoRightotooSpeedyoTrial)ooneomusto haveoregardotooallotheoattendantocircumstances,oincludingo natureoofooffence,onumberoofoaccusedoandowitnesses,otheo workloado ofo theo courto concerned,o prevailingo localo conditionsoandosooono-owhatoisocalled,otheosystemicodelays.o ItoisotrueothatoitoisotheoobligationoofotheoStateotooensureoao speedyo trialo ando Stateo includeso judiciaryo aso well,o buto ao realistico ando practicalo approacho shouldo beo adoptedo ino suchomattersoinsteadoofoaopedanticoone.oo

6.oEachoandoeveryodelayodoesonotonecessarilyoprejudiceotheo accused.oSomeodelaysomayoindeedoworkotoohisoadvantage.o AsohasobeenoobservedobyoPowell,oJ.oinoBarkero"itocannotobeo saidohowolongoaodelayoisotooolongoinoaosystemowhereojusticeo isosupposedotoobeoswiftobutodeliberate".oTheosameoideaohaso beenostatedobyoWhite,oJ.oinoU.S.ov.oEwelloinotheofollowingo words:oo '...otheoSixthoAmendmentorightotooaospeedyotrialoiso necessarilyorelative,oisoconsistentowithodelays,oando hasoorderlyoexpedition,oratherothanomereospeed,oaso itso essentialo ingredients;o ando whethero delayo ino completingo ao prosecutiono amountso too ano unconstitutionalodeprivationooforightsodependsoupono RAVINDER SINGH allotheocircumstances.'oo

-6-o However,o inordinatelyo longo delayo mayo beo takeno aso presumptiveoproofoofoprejudice.oInothisocontext,otheofactoofo incarcerationoofoaccusedowilloalsoobeoaorelevantofact.oTheo prosecutiono shouldo noto beo allowedo too becomeo ao persecution.o Buto wheno doeso theo prosecutiono becomeo persecution,oagainodependsouponotheofactsoofoaogivenocase.oo

7.oWeocannotorecogniseoorogiveoeffectoto,owhatoisocalledotheo 'demand'orule.oAnoaccusedocannototryohimself;oheoisotriedo byotheocourtoatotheobehestoofotheoprosecution.oHence,oano accused'sopleaoofodenialoofospeedyotrialocannotobeodefeatedo byosayingothatotheoaccusedodidoatonootimeodemandoaospeedyo trial.oIfoinoaogivenocase,oheodidomakeosuchoaodemandoando yetoheowasonototriedospeedily,oitowouldobeoaoplusopointoino hiso favour,o buto theo mereo non-askingo foro ao speedyo trialo cannoto beo puto againsto theo accused.o Eveno ino USA,o theo relevanceoofodemandoruleohasobeenosubstantiallyowateredo downoinoBarkeroandootherosucceedingocases.oo

8.o Ultimately,o theo courto haso too balanceo ando weigho theo severalo relevanto factorso -o 'balancingo test'o oro 'balancingo process'o-oandodetermineoinoeachocaseowhetherotheorightotoo speedyotrialohasobeenodeniedoinoaogivenocase.oo

9.o Ordinarilyo speaking,o whereo theo courto comeso too theo conclusiono thato righto too speedyo trialo ofo ano accusedo haso beenoinfringedotheochargesoorotheoconviction,oasotheocaseo mayobe,oshallobeoquashed.oButothisoisonototheoonlyocourseo open.oTheonatureoofotheooffenceoandootherocircumstancesoino aogivenocaseomayobeosuchothatoquashingoofoproceedingso mayonotobeoinotheointerestoofojustice.oInosuchoaocase,oitoiso openotootheocourtotoomakeosuchootheroappropriateoordero-o includingoanoorderotooconcludeotheotrialowithinoaofixedotimeo whereotheotrialoisonotoconcludedoororeducingotheosentenceo whereotheotrialohasoconcludedo-oasomayobeodeemedojustoando equitableoinotheocircumstancesoofotheocase.oo

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10.oItoisoneitheroadvisableonoropracticableotoofixoanyotime-limitoforotrialoofooffences.oAnyosuchoruleoisoboundotoobeo qualifiedoone.oSuchoruleocannotoalsoobeoevolvedomerelyotoo shiftotheoburdenoofoprovingojustificationoonotootheoshoulderso ofotheoprosecution.oInoeveryocaseoofocomplaintoofodenialoofo rightotoospeedyotrial,oitoisoprimarilyoforotheoprosecutionotoo justifyoandoexplainotheodelay.oAtotheosameotime,oitoisotheo dutyoofotheocourtotooweighoallotheocircumstancesoofoaogiveno caseo beforeo pronouncingo upono theo complaint.o Theo SupremeoCourtoofoUSAotooohasorepeatedlyorefusedotoofixo anyosuchoouterotime-olimitoinospiteoofotheoSixthoAmendment.o Noro doo weo thinko thato noto fixingo anyo sucho outero limito ineffectuatesotheoguaranteeooforightotoospeedyotrial.oo

11.oAnoobjectionobasedoonodenialooforightotoospeedyotrialo andofororeliefoonothatoaccount,oshouldofirstobeoaddressedotoo theoHighoCourt.oEvenoifotheoHighoCourtoentertainsosuchoao plea,oordinarilyoitoshouldonotostayotheoproceedings,oexcepto ino ao caseo ofo graveo ando exceptionalo nature.o Sucho proceedingsoinoHighoCourtomust,ohowever,obeodisposedoofo onoaopriorityobasis."o o o Ino Kartaro Singho v.o Stateo ofo Punjab,o 1994(2)o RCRo (Criminal)o168,otheoConstitutionoBenchoofotheoHon'bleoSupremeoCourto heldoasounder:o-o "84.o Theo righto too ao speedyo trialo iso ao derivationo fromo ao provisionoofoMagnaoCarta.oThisoprincipleohasoalsoobeeno incorporatedo intoo theo Virginiao Declarationo ofo Rightso ofo 1776o ando fromo thereo intoo theo Sixtho Amendmento ofo theo ConstitutionoofoUnitedoStatesoofoAmericaowhichoreads,o"Ino allocriminaloprosecutions,otheoaccusedoshalloenjoyotheorighto tooaospeedyoandopublicotrial...".oItomayobeopointedoout,oino thisoconnection,othatothereoisoaoFederaloActoofo1974ocalledo 'Speedyo Trialo Act'o establishingo ao seto ofo time-limitso foro RAVINDER SINGH carryingo outo theo majoro events,o e.g.,o information,o

-8-o indictment,o arraignment,o ino theo prosecutiono ofo criminalo cases.o[SeeoBlack'soLawoDictionary,o6thoEdn.opageo1400].oo

85.oTheorightotooaospeedyotrialoisonotoonlyoanoimportanto safeguardotoopreventoundueoandooppressiveoincarceration,o too minimiseo anxietyo ando concerno accompanyingo theo accusationo ando too limito theo possibilityo ofo impairingo theo abilityoofoanoaccusedotoodefendohimselfobutoalsoothereoisoao societalointerestoinoprovidingoaospeedyotrial.oThisorightohaso beenoactuatedoinotheorecentopastoandotheocourtsohaveolaido downo ao serieso ofo decisionso openingo upo newo vistaso ofo fundamentalorights.oInofact,olotoofocasesoareocomingobeforeo theocourtsoforoquashingoofoproceedingsoonotheogroundoofo inordinateoandoundueodelayostatingothatotheoinvocationoofo thiso righto eveno needo noto awaito formalo indictmento oro charge.oo

86.oTheoconceptoofospeedyotrialoisoreadointooArticleo21oaso ano essentialo parto ofo theo fundamentalo righto too lifeo ando libertyoguaranteedoandopreservedounderoouroConstitution.o Theorightotoospeedyotrialobeginsowithotheoactualorestrainto imposedo byo arresto ando consequento incarcerationo ando continuesoatoallostages,onamely,otheostageoofoinvestigation,o inquiry,o trial,o appealo ando revisiono soo thato anyo possibleo prejudiceo thato mayo resulto fromo impermissibleo ando avoidableodelayofromotheotimeoofotheocommissionoofotheo offenceotilloitoconsummatesointooaofinality,ocanobeoaverted.o Ino thiso context,o ito mayo beo notedo thato theo constitutionalo guaranteeoofospeedyotrialoisoproperlyoreflectedoinoSectiono 309oofotheoCodeoofoCriminaloProcedure.oo

87.o Thiso Courto ino Hussainarao Khatoono v.o Homeo Secretary,oAIRo1979oSupremeoCourto1360,oStateoofoBiharo whileodealingowithoArticleo21oofotheoConstitutionoofoIndiao hasoobservedothus:o(SCCop.o89,oparao5)oo "Nooprocedureowhichodoesonotoensureoaoreasonablyo RAVINDER SINGH quickotrialocanobeoregardedoaso'reasonable,ofairooro

-9-o just'oandoitowouldofallofouloofoArticleo21.oThereocan,o therefore,o beo noo doubto thato speedyo trial,o ando byo speedyotrialoweomeanoreasonablyoexpeditiousotrial,o isoanointegraloandoessentialopartoofotheofundamentalo rightotoolifeoandolibertyoenshrinedoinoArticleo21.oTheo questionowhichowould,ohowever,oariseoisoasotoowhato wouldobeotheoconsequenceoifoaopersonoaccusedoofoano offenceoisodeniedospeedyotrialoandoisosoughtotoobeo deprivedoofohisolibertyobyoimprisonmentoasoaoresulto ofo ao longo delayedo trialo ino violationo ofo hiso fundamentalo righto undero Articleo 21.o Wouldo heo beo entitledotoobeoreleasedounconditionallyofreeofromotheo chargeo levelledo againsto himo ono theo groundo thato tryingohimoafteroanoundulyolongoperiodoofotimeoando convictingo himo aftero sucho trialo wouldo constituteo violationoofohisofundamentalorightounderoArticleo21."oo Seeoalsoo(1)oSuniloBatraov.oDelhioAdministrationo(I),o

(2)o Hussainarao Khatoono (I)o v.o Homeo Secretary,o Stateo ofo Bihar,o (3)o Hussainarao Khatoono (IV)o v.o Homeo Secretary,o Stateo ofo Bihar,o Patna,o (4)o HussainaraoKhatoono(VI)ov.oHomeoSecretary,oStateo ofoBihar,oGovt.oofoBihar,oPatna,o(5)oKadraoPahadiao v.oStateoofoBiharo(II),o(6)oT.V.oVatheeswaranov.oStateo ofo T.N.,o ando (7)o Abdulo Rehmano Antulayo v.o R.S.o Nayak.oo

88.oThusothisoCourtobyoaolineoofojudicialopronouncementso hasoemphasisedoandore-emphasisedothatospeedyotrialoisooneo ofotheofacetsoofotheofundamentalorightotoolifeoandolibertyo enshrinedo ino Articleo 21o ando theo lawo musto ensureo 'reasonable,ojustoandofair'oprocedureowhichohasoaocreativeo connotationo aftero theo decisiono ofo thiso Courto ino Manekao Gandhi."oo TheoCourtofurtheroobservedo:o

-10-o "92.oOfocourse,onoolengthoofotimeoisoperoseotooolongotoopasso scrutinyo undero thiso principleo noro theo accusedo iso calledo uponotheoshowotheoactualoprejudiceobyodelayoofodisposaloofo cases.o Ono theo othero hand,o theo courto haso too adopto ao balancingo approacho byo takingo noteo ofo theo possibleo prejudiceso ando disadvantageso too beo sufferedo byo theo accusedobyoavoidableodelayoandotoodetermineowhetherotheo accusedoinoaocriminaloproceedingohasobeenodeprivedoofohiso rightoofohavingospeedyotrialowithounreasonableodelayowhicho couldobeoidentifiedobyotheofactorso-o(1)olengthoofodelay,o(2)o theojustificationoforotheodelay,o(3)otheoaccused'soassertiono ofohisorightotoospeedyotrial,oando(4)oprejudiceocausedotootheo accusedo byo sucho delay.o However,o theo facto ofo delayo iso dependento ono theo circumstanceso ofo eacho caseo becauseo reasonsoforodelayowillovary,osuchoasodelayoinoinvestigationo onoaccountoofotheowidespreadoramificationoofocrimesoando itsodesignedonetworkoeitheronationallyoorointernationally,o theodeliberateoabsenceoofowitnessoorowitnesses,ocrowdedo docketsoonotheofileoofotheocourtoetc."o o o Thereafter,otheoHon'bleoSupremeoCourtoinotheocaseoofoP.o RamachandraoRaoov.oStateoofoKarnataka,o(2002)o4oSCCo578ohasoheldo asounder:o-o "29.oForoallotheoforegoingoreasons,oweoareoofotheoopiniono thatoinoCommonoCauseocaseo(I)o[asomodifiedoinoCommono Causeo(II)]oandoRajoDeooSharmao(I)oando(II)otheoCourto couldo noto haveo prescribedo periodso ofo limitationo beyondo whichotheotrialoofoaocriminalocaseooroaocriminaloproceedingo cannotocontinueoandomustomandatorilyobeoclosedofollowedo byo ano ordero acquittingo oro dischargingo theo accused.o Ino conclusionoweoholdo:o

1.oTheodictumoinoA.R.oAntulayocaseoisocorrectoando

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2.oTheopropositionsoemergingofromoArticleo21oofotheo Constitutiono ando expoundingo theo righto too speedyo trialolaidodownoasoguidelinesoinoA.R.oAntulayocaseo adequatelyo takeo careo ofo righto too speedyo trial.o Weo upholdoandoreaffirmotheosaidopropositions.oo

3.oTheoguidelinesolaidodownoinoA.R.oAntulayocaseoareo noto exhaustiveo buto onlyo illustrative.o Theyo areo noto intendedotoooperateoasohard-and-fastorulesoorotoobeo appliedo likeo ao straitjacketo formula.o Theiro applicabilityowouldodependoonotheofactosituationoofo eachocase.oItoisodifficultotooforeseeoallosituationsoando noogeneralisationocanobeomade.o

4.oItoisoneitheroadvisable,onorofeasible,onorojudiciallyo permissibleotoodrawooroprescribeoanoouterolimitoforo conclusiono ofo allo criminalo proceedings.o Theo time-limitsoorobarsoofolimitationoprescribedoinotheoseveralo directionso madeo ino Commono Causeo (I),o Rajo Deoo Sharmao(I)oandoRajoDeooSharmao(II)ocouldonotohaveo beenosooprescribedoorodrawnoandoareonotogoodolaw.o Theo criminalo courtso areo noto obligedo too terminateo trialoorocriminaloproceedingsomerelyoonoaccountoofo lapseoofotime,oasoprescribedobyotheodirectionsomadeo inoCommonoCauseocaseo(I),oRajoDeooSharmaocaseo

(I)o ando (II).o Ato theo mosto theo periodso ofo timeo prescribedoinothoseodecisionsocanobeotakenobyotheo courtsoseizedoofotheotrialooroproceedingsotooactoaso reminderso wheno theyo mayo beo persuadedo too applyo theirojudicialomindotootheofactsoandocircumstancesoofo theocaseobeforeothemoandodetermineobyotakingointoo considerationotheoseveralorelevantofactorsoasopointedo outo ino A.R.o Antulayo caseo ando decideo whethero theo trialo oro proceedingso haveo becomeo soo inordinatelyo delayedo aso too beo calledo oppressiveo ando RAVINDER SINGH unwarranted.oSuchotime-limitsocannotoandowillonoto

-12-o byothemselvesobeotreatedobyoanyocourtoasoaobarotoo furtherocontinuanceoofotheotrialooroproceedingsoando asomandatorilyoobligingotheocourtotooterminateotheo sameoandoacquitoorodischargeotheoaccused.oo

5.o Theo criminalo courtso shouldo exerciseo theiro availableopowers,osuchoasothoseounderoSectionso309,o 311oando258oofotheoCodeoofoCriminaloProcedureotoo effectuateotheorightotoospeedyotrial.oAowatchfuloando diligento trialo Judgeo cano proveo too beo ao bettero protectoro ofo sucho righto thano anyo guidelines.o Ino appropriateo cases,o jurisdictiono ofo theo Higho Courto undero Sectiono 482o Criminalo Procedureo Codeo ando Articleso 226o ando 227o ofo theo Constitutiono cano beo invokedo seekingo appropriateo reliefo oro suitableo directions.oo

6.o Thiso iso ano appropriateo occasiono too remindo theo UnionoofoIndiaoandotheoStateoGovernmentsoofotheiro constitutionaloobligationotoostrengthenotheojudiciaryo -o quantitativelyo ando qualitativelyo -o byo providingo requisiteo funds,o manpowero ando infrastructure.o Weo hopeoandotrustothatotheoGovernmentsoshalloact."o o o Hon'bleoSupremeoCourtoinoMangaloSinghoandoanotherov.o KishanoSinghoandoothers,o(2009)o17oSupremeoCourtoCaseso303oheldoaso under:o-o "WeoareounableotooagreeowithotheoHighoCourtoonobothotheo counts.oAnyoinordinateodelayoinoconclusionoofoaocriminalo trialoundoubtedlyohasoaohighlyodeleteriousoeffectoonotheo societyogenerally,oandoparticularlyoonotheotwoosidesotootheo case.oButoitowillobeoaograveomistakeotooassumeothatodelayo inotrialodoesonotocauseoacuteosufferingoandoanguishotootheo victimo ofo theo offence.o Ino manyo caseso theo victimo mayo sufferoevenomoreothanotheoaccused.oThereois,othereforeonoo RAVINDER SINGH reasonotoogiveoallotheobenefitsoonoaccountoofotheodelayoino

-13-o trialotootheoaccusedoandotoocompletelyodenyoallojusticeotoo theovictimoofotheooffence.oInothisocaseothereoisonothingotoo indicateo thato theo appellantso oro theo prosecutiono wereo responsibleoforotheodelayoinotrial.oWeoare,othereforeoofotheo viewothatotheoHighoCourtowasonotorightoinosubstitutingotheo custodialo sentenceo ofo theo respondentso too onlyo fineso ofo Rs.3500/-."o o o Hon'bleoSupremeoCourtoinoRattiramoandoothersov.oStateoofo M.P.othroughoInspectoroofoPolice,o2012(2)oR.C.R.(Criminal)o471heldo asounder:o-o "46.o Ato thiso juncture,o weo wouldo likeo too refero too twoo othero concepts,o namely,o speedyo trialo ando treatmento ofo ao victimo ino criminalo jurisprudenceo basedoonotheo constitutionaloparadigmo andoprinciple.oTheoentitlementoofotheoaccusedotoospeedyotrialo haso beeno repeatedlyo emphasizedo byo thiso Court.o Ito haso beeno recognizedoasoanoinherentoandoimplicitoaspectoinotheospectrumo ofoArticleo21oofotheoConstitution.oTheowholeopurposeoofospeedyo trialoisointendedotooavoidooppressionoandopreventodelay.oItoisoao sacrosancto obligationo ofo allo concernedo witho theo justiceo dispensationosystemotooseeothatotheoadministrationoofocriminalo justiceobecomesoeffective,ovibrantoandomeaningful.oTheoconcepto ofospeedyotrialocannotobeoallowedotooremainoaomereoformalityo (seeoHussainaraoKhatoonoandoOrs.oV.oHomeoSecretary,oStateoofo Bihar,o(1980)1oSCCo81,oMotioLaloSarafov.oStateoofoJammuo&o Kashmir,o2006(4)oRCRo(Criminal)o637o:o2006(3)oApexoCriminalo 480o ando Rajo Deoo Sharmao v.o Stateo ofo Bihar,o 1998(4)o RCRo (Criminal)o396:1998(37)oACCo834(SC).o

47.oWhileodelineatingoonotheofacetsoofospeedyotrial,oitocannotobeo regardedoasoanoexclusiveorightoofotheoaccused.oTheorightoofoao victimohasobeenogivenorecognitionoinoMangaloSinghoandoAnr.oV.o KishanoSinghoandoors.,oAIRo2009oSupremeoCourto1535owhereino itohasobeenoobservedothuso:-o

-14-o "Anyoinordinateodelayoinoconclusionoofoaocriminalotrialo undoubtedlyohasohighlyodeleteriousoeffectoonotheosocietyo generallyoandoparticularlyoonotheotwoosidesoofotheocase.o Butoitowillobeoaograveomistakeotooassumeothatodelayoinotrialo doesonotocauseoacuteosufferingoandoanguishotootheovictimo ofotheooffence.oInomanyocasesotheovictimomayosufferoeveno moreothanotheoaccused.oThereois,othereforeonooreasonotoo giveoallotheobenefitsoonoaccountoofotheodelayoinotrialotootheo accusedoandotoocompletelyodenyoallojusticeotootheovictimoofo theooffence."o

48.o Ito iso wortho notingo thato theo Constitutiono Bencho ino Iqbalo Singho Marwaho ando anothero v.o Meenakshio Marwaho ando another,o2005(2)oRCRo(Criminal)o178:o2005(1)oApexoCriminalo 581o:o2005(28)oAICo1o(SC)o:o2005(51)oACCo910o(SC)othoughoino ao differento context,o hado alsoo observedo thato delayo ino theo prosecutiono ofo ao guiltyo persono comeso too hiso advantageo aso witnessesobecomesoreluctantotoogiveoevidenceoandotheoevidenceo getsolost."o o o Theo righto too ao speedyo trialo waso firsto recognisedo ino HussainaraoKhatoon'socase,oAIRo1979oSupremeoCourto1360,owherein,o theoHon'bleoSupremeoCourtoheldothatoaospeedyotrialoisoimplicitoinotheo broado sweepo ando contento ofo Articleo 21o ofo theo Constitution.o Subsequently,oinoaoseriesoofojudgments,otheoHon'bleoSupremeoCourtohaso heldothato'reasonably'oexpeditiousotrialoisoanointegraloandoessentialoparto ofotheoFundamentaloRightotooLifeoandoLibertyoenshrinedoinoArticleo21oofo theoConstitutionoofoIndia.o o o Whileo consideringo theo factso ofo theo presento case,o ito haso emergedothatotheotrialoisopendingosinceotheoyearo2018andonooeffectiveo proceedingsoareogoingoonoforotheolastomoreothanofouroyears.ooEvenotheo applicationodatedo26.11.2019ofiledobyotheopetitionerounderoSectiono143-

-15-o AoofotheoNIoActoforodirectingotheorespondentotooassessoandopayointerimo compensationohasonotobeenodecidedobyotheotrialoCourt.o o o Inoviewoofotheofactsoofothisocaseohavingobeenogoneointo,oito transpiresothatoproceedingsoinotheopresentocaseobeforeotheotrialoCourtoareo goingo ono ino sucho mannero whicho raiseo questiono upono theo systemo ofo administrationoofojustice.ooJusticeodelayedoisojusticeodenied.ooo o o Ino viewo ofo theo peculiaro factso ando circumstanceso ofo thiso case,o thiso Courto deemso ito appropriateo too issueo directionso too theo trialo Courtotooconcludeotheotrialoinotheopresentocaseopreferablyowithinoaoperiodo ofo nineo monthso withouto grantingo unnecessaryo ando unwarrantedo adjournments.ooTheopartiesotootheocomplaintoareodirectedotoofullyoco-operate/assistotheotrialoCourtoinoexpeditiousodisposaloofotheocase.o o o CopyoofothisoorderobeosentotootheotrialoCourtoforoimmediateo compliance.o o o Theopetitionostandsodisposedoofowithotheoaboveodirections.o o (NAMIToKUMAR)o

27.03.2023o o o o o ooooooooooooooooooJUDGEo R.S.o o Whetherospeaking/reasonedoo :o Yes/Noo o WhetheroReportableoo o :o Yes/Noo o