Puneet Datta v. State Of NCT Of Delhi Through Sho Eow

$~86 * IN THE HIGH COURT OF DELHI AT NEW DELHI + W.P.(CRL) 505/2025 & Crl. M.A. 4477/2025 PUNEET DATTA .....Petitioner Through:

Mr.

Zeeshan Diwan, Mr.

Piyush Thanvi and Mr. Harsha, Advocates versus STATE OF NCT OF DELHI THROUGH SHO EOW .....Respondent Through:

Mr. Rahul Tyagi, ASC for State with Mr. Sangeet Sibou, Mr. Mathew M.

Philip and Mr. Aniket Kumar Singh, Advocates with SI Ajay Swami, PS EOW

CORAM:

HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE VIKAS MAHAJAN

O R D E R

% 13.02.2025 1.

The present petition has been filed seeking following relief: a) Pass a direction to the Ld. Trial Court in Cr. Case No. 512 of 2019, titled "State vs Closure Report" to expeditiously dispose the Protest Petition in a time bound manner, preferably within 3 months or as this Hon'ble Court deems fit.

2.

Mr. Zeeshan Diwan, learned counsel appearing on behalf of the petitioner submits that the cancellation report was filed by the police as early as on 23.01.2019 and against the same the petitioner had filed a protest petition on 11.10.2019.

He submits that the matter has been heard by the concerned Court as many as on eight occasions but till date the protest petition has not been adjudicated. He submits that speedy trial is guaranteed The authenticity of the order can be re-verified from Delhi High Court Order Portal by scanning the QR code shown above.

by the Constitution of India as a fundamental right. 3.

He, therefore, urges that a direction may be given to the trial court to expeditiously dispose of the present petition. 4.

At this stage, it is pointed out that the last date before the trial court was 12.12.2024 and the next date fixed is now 23.07.2025. In this backdrop, it is further urged by the learned counsel for the petitioner that the liberty may be granted to the petitioner to seek preponement of the hearing. 5.

Issue notice. Learned Standing Counsel appearing on behalf of the State accepts notice. He submits that the State has no objection in case the directions are given to the learned trial court to dispose of the protest petition of the petitioner expeditiously.

6.

Having regard to the limited prayer sought in the present petition, the petition is being taken up for disposal at the stage of issuance of notice itself without calling any reply from the respondent. 7.

It is the case of the petitioner that the cancellation report was filed by the police on 23.01.2019 and the protest petition was filed by him on 11.10.2019. But till date petition has not been adjudicated despite arguments having taken place on as many as eight occasions. It is trite law that speedy trial has been guaranteed by the Constitution of India as a fundamental right under Article 21 of the Constitution of India. Thus, the State is under obligation to ensure speedy trial and State includes the judiciary as well. 8.

Having regard to the aforesaid circumstances, learned trial court is directed to expeditiously dispose of the protest petition filed by the present petitioner in Crl. Case No. 512/2019 titled 'State Vs. Closure Report', in a time bound manner, preferably within a period of six months from today. 9.

The petition stands disposed of in the above terms. The authenticity of the order can be re-verified from Delhi High Court Order Portal by scanning the QR code shown above.

10.

In view of the aforesaid circumstances, liberty is also granted to the petitioner to seek preponement of the hearing before the learned trial court, which may be considered by the learned trial court, regard being had to its board position.

VIKAS MAHAJAN, J FEBRUARY 13, 2025 'rs'

The authenticity of the order can be re-verified from Delhi High Court Order Portal by scanning the QR code shown above.