IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT MADRAS DATED : 19.02.2026 CORAM:

THE HONOURABLE MR. JUSTICE A.D.JAGADISH CHANDIRA Mano @ Manavalan ... Petitioner -Vs-

State Rep. by The Inspector of Police M-5 Ennore Police Station, Tiruvallur. ... Respondent Prayer : Criminal Original Petition filed under Section 528 of B.N.S.S, to direct the IV Additional District and Sessions Court at Ponneri to expedite the trial proceedings in S.C.No. 136 of 2024 in a time bound manner without further delay.

For Petitioner : Ms.S.Thankira For Respondent : Mr.S.Santhosh Government Advocate (Crl.side)

O RDER

This Criminal Original Petition has been filed seeking expeditious disposal of S.C.No. 136 of 2024 pending on the file of the learned IV Additional District and Sessions Court, Ponneri.

2. The learned counsel appearing for the petitioner submitted that the petitioner, who is arrayed as the 6^th accused (A6), is currently facing trial and has been in continuous custody without being granted bail till date. He further submitted that the witnesses are available for examination. Hence, he prays for early disposal.

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

4. It is pertinent to state that a 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, 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).

5. 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.

6. Considering the facts and circumstances of this case and also considering that the petitioner is still in continuous custody, this Court directs the learned IV Additional District and Sessions Court, Ponneri, to dispose of the case in S.C.No. 136 of 2024, as expeditiously as possible, preferably within a period of six months from the date of receipt of a copy of this order.

7. With the above direction, this Criminal Original Petition stands disposed of. 19.02.2026 Index : Yes/No Neutral Citation: Yes/No Speaking/Non Speaking order rpl To

1.The IV Additional District and Sessions Judge, Ponneri

2.The Inspector of Police M-5 Ennore Police Station, Tiruvallur.

A.D.JAGADISH CHANDIRA . J, rpl

3.The Public Prosecutor, High Court of Madras, Chennai.

19.02.2026