ORDER :

Delay condoned. Leave granted.

2. For the murder of one Bhagwan Singh at Sikar, Rajasthan, on 27th May, 2005, 20 persons were tried. Nine have been convicted concurrently by the trial court and the High Court. They are the appellants. Others have either been acquitted or have died.

3. We have heard learned counsel for the parties at great length and also perused the record. We do not find any infirmity in the orders of the court below calling for our interference under Article 136 of the Constitution of India. The appeals are, accordingly, dismissed.

4. Before parting with this matter, we must record a disturbing feature in the conduct of the trial of the present case. After recording examination-in-chief of the star witness, PW-14 Prabhu Singh, on 13th April, 2010, the matter was adjourned on the request of defence counsel to 25th August, 2010 i.e. for about more than four months. After that, part evidence of the witnesses was recorded on 24th September, 2010 and the matter was again adjourned to 11th October, 2010. Before that, four witnesses of the same family in their statements recorded on 10th April, 2010 had become hostile.

5. In a criminal case of this nature, the trial