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2026 Supreme(Online)(Mad) 40526
IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT MADRAS
M. NIRMAL KUMAR, J
P.PUSHPARAJ – Appellant
Versus
The Inspector of Police – Respondent
Crl.O.P / Criminal Original Petition | Cont.P.No.2504 of 2025 | CC.No.1542 of 2026
For the Appellants/Petitioners: Ms.R.Aparna
For the Respondents: Ms.Leonard Arul Joseph Selvam, Additional Public Prosecutor
Courts must intervene to prevent bureaucratic delays in criminal trials, directing expeditious disposal within fixed time frames.
Headnote:Under Sections 465, 468, 471, 420, 120
(B) IPC filed in Crime No.24, a charge sheet was registered after prolonged judicial intervention spanning nearly eight years since initial registration in 2018. Court observes that this petition follows a sequence of Crl.O.P.No.1396 of 2018, Cont.P.No.2247 of 2018, Crl.O.P.No.5967 of 2025, and Cont.P.No.2504 of 2025, where after positive orders and contempt proceedings, investigation was compelled and charge sheet filed on 10.02.2026 before Judicial Magistrate-II, Krishnagiri under CC.No.1542 of 2026. Court holds that the trial court must ensure timely completion of trial in nine months, stressing judicial monitoring of stalled cases. The primary issues framed centered on delays in investigation and lack of progress in trial after charge sheet filing; Ratio Decidendi emphasizes court's ongoing supervisory role to expedite criminal trials after prolonged investigation and to prevent inordinate delays that result from bureaucratic inertia. The petition is ordered accordingly with directions to Judicial Magistrate-II, Krishnagiri to complete trial in nine months from this order.
| Table of Content |
|---|
| 1. sequence of procedural delays and multiple interventions (Para 1 , 2) |
| 2. timeline of charge sheet filing and court observations on delay (Para 3 , 4) |
| 3. trial completion within nine months and final directions (Para 5) |
ORDER
The petitioner/defacto complainant lodged a complaint to the respondent police and a case in crime No.24 of 2018 had been registered.
2. The accused in this case are none other than the petitioner's brother and sister-in-law. The complaint was not acted upon, hence petitioner filed direction petition in Crl.O.P.No.1396 of 2018, despite positive orders issued, thereafter to FIR not registered. Hence, Cont.P.No.2247 of 2018 filed, then FIR in Crime No.24 of 2018 registered. Since no progress in the investigation, the petitioner filed a petition in Crl.O.P.No.5967 of 2025 and this court, by order dated 03.01.2025 directed the respondent police to complete the investigation in Crime No.24 of 2018 and file final report within a period of twelve weeks, the said order not complied. Hence the petitioner filed a contempt petition in Cont.P.No.2504 of 2025, the respondent reported charge sheet filed and recording the same, Contempt Petition closed. The charge sheet filed on 10.02.2026 in filing number C.C.1542/2026 before the learned Judicial Magistrate-II, Krishnagiri. Thereafter no progress, hence the present petition filed seeking transfer of the case to some other Court.
3. Learned Additional Public Prosecutor submits that the charge sheet has been filed on 10.02.2026 before the learned Judicial Magistrate-II, Krishnagiri in filing number CC/1542/2026 for offence under Sections 465, 468, 471, 420, 120(B) IPC.
4. It is seen that the respondent police now filed charge sheet in Crime No.24 of 2018 before learned Judicial Magistrate No.II, Krishnagiri on 10.02.2026. It is to be seen that petitioner knocking the doors of this Court at each stage. In Crime No.24 of 2016, charge sheet filed nearly after eight years.
Now after filing of the charge sheet, case not progressed.
5. In view of the above, the learned Judicial Magistrate-II, Krishnagiri to proceed with the trial of the above case without any further delay, ensure that the trial in the above case is completed with a period of nine months from the date of receipt of a copy of this order/uploading of the order.
6. The petition is ordered accordingly with the above directions.
