JUDGMENT

The accused in C.C.No.197/2017 on the files of the Judicial First Class Magistrate Court, Sasthamcotta, has filed this original petition under Article 227 of the Constitution of India for a direction to the said court for the disposal of the above case, within a time frame to be fixed by this Court.

2. Heard the learned counsel for the petitioner and the learned Public Prosecutor representing the State of Kerala.

3. As per the judgment rendered in Allahabad High Court Bar Association v. State of U.P. and Others [2024 (6) SCC 267], the Hon’ble Supreme Court has cautioned the constitutional courts from prescribing time limits for the disposal of the cases pending before the courts below, unless there are compelling reasons to adopt such a course.

4. Paragraph Nos. 32 and 33 of the aforesaid judgment of the Hon’ble Supreme Court in Allahabad High Court Bar Association (supra), are extracted hereunder:-

“32. Therefore, constitutional Courts should not normally fix a time - bound schedule for disposal of cases pending in any Court. The pattern of pendency of various categories of cases pending in every Court, including High Courts, is different. The situation at the grassroots