Trial courts should prioritize case disposal but routine time limits from higher courts are disallowed.

IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT MADRAS DATED : 16.07.2025 CORAM THE HONOURABLE MR.JUSTICE P.VELMURUGAN Crl.O.P.No.19826 of 2025 M.Raja ... Petitioner Vs.

State Rep. by Inspector of Police C.C.I.W., C.I.D., Krishnagiri Crime No.1 of 2016 ... Respondent Prayer: Criminal Original Petition is filed under Section 528 of BNSS , 2023, to direct the Judicial Magistrate-II, Krishnagiri to expedite the trial in C.C.No.153 of 2021 on day to day basis within stipulated time period as may be fixed by this Court.

For Petitioner : Mr.S.Sathish For Respondent : Mr.S.Vinoth Kumar Government Advocate (Crl. Side)

O R D E R

The Criminal Original Petition has been filed by the petitioner to to direct the Judicial Magistrate-II, Krishnagiri to expedite the trial in C.C.No.153 of 2021 on day to day basis within stipulated time period as may be fixed by this Court.

2. The Hon'ble Supreme Court has already given a directions to the High Courts not to give directions to the trial Court fixing time limit for disposal of cases in a routine manner and pressurise the trial Court to give priority to a particular case.

3. The Hon'ble Supreme Court in the case ofSangram Sadashiv Suryavanshi Vs. The State of Maharashtra inCriminal Appeal No.4758 of 2024 dated 25.11.2024 has observed that the High Courts are fixing a time-bound schedule for conclusion of the trials in a routine manner despite the decisions of the Constitution Bench of the Supreme Court in the case of High Court Bar Association, Allahabad vs. State of Uttar Pradesh reported in (2024) 6 SCC 267 , which reads as under:

"47.3. constitutional courts, in the ordinary course, should refrain from fixing a time-bound schedule for the disposal of cases pending before any other courts. Constitutional courts may issue directions for the time-bound disposal of cases only in exceptional circumstances. The issue of prioritising the disposal of cases should be best left to the decision of the courts concerned where the cases are pending."

4. In view of the above, this Court is not inclined to fix any time frame to the trial Court to dispose of the case in C.C.No.153 of 2021 as sought for by the petitioner.

5. However, the Magistrate is directed to expedite the trial and dispose of the case as early as possible as per roster.

6. With the above directions, this Criminal Original Petition is disposed of. 16.07.2025 Index : Yes/No Neutral Citation Case : Yes/No Speaking Order : Yes/No ksa-2 To