JUDGMENT

R.C. Lahoti, J.-The present lis, having attained the age of 15 years by this time, is one harrowing tale of laws delays causing frustration in the mind of a suitor who deprived of his property rushed promptly to the Court for vindicating his rights and seeking protection under the arm of law. He faced adjournments and adjournments without any substantial progress at the trial in an over-burdened Trial Court, at the lowest rung of the judicial hierarchy, unable to spare such time as the individual cases demand so as to have a firm grip over the progress of each case. Several revisions taken to the High Court at interlocutory stages of the trial, too contributed to the delay, adding fuel to the fire of the plaintiff s agony. The record of tardy proceedings in the Trial Court, at least at the initial stage, reflects the defendant s impunity; he felt that he was beyond the reach of the law, though fortunately such hope of the defendant proved to be only a nightmare. The case has witnessed even contempt proceedings being initiated. Criminal cases too have germinated as off-shoot branches. We have heard the learned senior counsel for the appellant and the respondent appearing i