IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT MADRAS DATED: 20.01.2026 CORAM:

THE HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE A.D.JAGADISH CHANDIRA Hari Padman ... Petitioner Vs.

The Inspector of Police, W-19, All Women Police Station, Adyar, Chennai – 600 020. ... Respondent PRAYER: Criminal Original Petition is filed under Section 528 of Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, to direct the learned XVIII Metropolitan Magistrate, Saidapet, to expeditiously ensure speedy disposal of trial in C.C.No.2145 of 2023, by fixing a stipulated time period for completion of trial.

For Petitioner : Ms.Ramya Subramaniam Datar For Respondent : Mr.S.Santhosh Government Advocate (Criminal Side)

O R D E R

This Criminal Original Petition has been filed seeking expeditious disposal of C.C.No.2145 of 2023 pending on the file of the learned XVIII Metropolitan Magistrate, Saidapet, within a stipulated time.

2. Learned counsel appearing for the petitioner submitted that the petitioner is the sole accused in Crime No.8 of 2023 registered for the offences under Sections 354-A and 509 of IPC and Section 4 of the TN Prohibition of Harassment of Women Act, 2002, on the file of the respondent. He further submitted that the petitioner is regularly appearing before the trial Court on all hearing dates. However, the de facto complainant is purposely delaying the trial. Hence, the present petition has been filed seeking speedy disposal.

3. Learned Government Advocate (Criminal Side) appearing for the respondent submitted that there are twenty three witnesses in this case and that the case now stands posted for examination of LW3.

4. Heard the learned counsel appearing on either side and perused the materials available on record.

5. It is pertinent to state that a Constitution Bench of the Hon’ble Supreme Court, in the case of High Court Bar Association, Allahabad vs. State of Uttar Pradesh reported in (2024) 6 SCC 267, has held that the constitutional courts, in the ordinary course, should refrain from fixing a time-bound schedule for the disposal of cases pending before any other court. The relevant portion of the said decision for the sake of ready reference is reproduced below:

"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."

(emphasis supplied by this Court).

6. It has also been held in the aforesaid extracted portion that in exceptional circumstances, constitutional courts may issue directions for time bound disposal of cases.

7. Considering the facts and circumstances of this case and that the case pertains to the year 2023, this Court directs the learned XVIII Metropolitan Magistrate, Saidapet, to dispose of the case in C.C.No.2145 of 2023, as expeditiously as possible, preferably within a period of six months from the date of receipt of a copy of this order.

8. With the above direction, this Criminal Original Petition stands disposed of.

20.01.2026 Neutral Citation: Yes/No ham To

1. The XVIII Metropolitan Magistrate, Saidapet.

2. The Inspector of Police, W-19, All Women Police Station, Adyar, Chennai – 600 020. 3. The Public Prosecutor, High Court of Madras.

A.D.JAGADISH CHANDIRA , J .

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20.01.2026