P. Umadevi v. The State Rep By, The Inspector Of Police

IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT MADRAS

DATED: 02.06.2026

CORAM

THE HONOURABLE MR.JUSTICE M. NIRMAL KUMAR Crl.O.P. No. 8264 of 2026 P. Umadevi ..Petitioner Vs.

1.

The State rep. by The Inspector of Police, W-14, All Women Police Station, Thiruvottiyur, Chennai - 19.

2.

S. Premnath ..Respondents Prayer:

Criminal Original Petition under Section 528 of BNSS to direct the Additional District and Sessions Judge No.IV, Ponneri to pronounce the judgment in Crl.A. No. 124 of 2022 within stipulated time. For Petitioner ::

Mr.D. Nandhagopal For Respondents ::

Mr.A. Amarnath, Counsel for Govt. of Tamil Nadu (Criminal Side) for R1 1\6

O R D E R

The present criminal original petition is filed to direct the Additional District and Sessions Judge No.IV, Ponneri to pronounce the judgment in Crl.A. No. 124 of 2022 within a stipulated time. 2.

The petitioner as de facto complainant filed a complaint against the 2nd respondent/Accused No.1 and 4 others and a case in Crime No. 17 of 2016 was registered by the 1st respondent Police initially for offences under Sections 498(A) and 506(ii) IPC and thereafter, altered FIR was filed by including Section 494 r/w 34 IPC. After investigation, the final report was filed against all the five accused for offences under Sections 498A, 494 & 506 (ii) r/w 34 IPC. The case was taken on file by the learned Judicial Magistrate, Thiruvottiyur in C.C. No. 529 of 2017 and after completion of trial, learned Judicial Magistrate, Thiruvottiyur, rendered a judgment of conviction against A1 to A5 on 29.09.2022 for the offences under Sections 494 & 498A r/w 34 IPC and sentenced each one of them to undergo simple imprisonment for a period of 2 years together with a fine of Rs.1000/- each, in default to undergo one month simple imprisonment for the offence under Section 494 r/w 34 IPC and for the offence under Section 2\6

498A r/w 34 IPC, each one of the accused was sentenced to undergo simple imprisonment for one year together with a fine of Rs.500/- each carrying a default sentence of one month simple imprisonment. Aggrieved against the said judgment, the accused had filed appeals before the Sessions Court in Crl.A. No. 124 of 2022 (by A1), Crl.A. No. 125 of 2022 (by A2), Crl.A. No. 130 of 2022 ( by A3 to A5). The petitioner/de facto complainant had also filed a cross-appeal seeking enhancement of sentence in Crl.A. No. 166 of 2023.

3.

As far as criminal appeal filed by A1 is concerned, namely, Crl.A. No. 124 of 2022, (which is the subject matter of this criminal original petition), both sides arguments were heard and the appeal was posted for judgment on 25.09.2025. Thereafter, for complete perusal of records, the said criminal appeal along with connected case was adjourned to 28.10.2025; on 28.10.2025, since judgment was not made ready, it was adjourned to 18.11.2025 again for judgment; on 18.11.2025, it has been recorded that the judgment was not made ready since the steno typist was on EL and it was adjourned to 18.12.2025; on 18.12.2025, the matter was reposted to 20.01.2026 as the Judge was on CL; on 20.01.2026, it has been 3\6

recorded that the case was reopened for clarification and adjourned to 03.02.2026; on 03.02.2026, for the appearance of the counsel for the appellant, it was adjourned to 10.02.2026; on 10.02.2026, the counsel for the accused submitted that an order was passed in Crl.M.P. No. 3384 of 2025 on 06.02.2026, but it was in no way related to the case reserved for judgment and thereafter, the case was adjourned to 26.02.2026; on 26.02.2026, the matter along with connected matters was referred to mediation and posted to 16.04.2026. Now, it is submitted that the case is posted for judgment on 25.06.2026. Hence, the petitioner filed the present petition seeking appropriate direction to the Lower Appellate Court to render judgment in Crl.A. No. 124 of 2022.

4, Learned Government Counsel for the 1st respondent submitted that arguments have been advanced in all the appeals and further, the case was last referred to mediation as the issue had arisen due to marital discord and since the mediation failed, now the case is posted for judgment on 25.06.2026.

5.

In the light of the above facts, the learned Additional District and Sessions Judge IV, Ponneri is directed to render judgment in 4\6

Crl.A. No. 124 of 2022 positively on 25.06.2026. The criminal original petition is disposed of with the above direction. 6.

In the meanwhile, a report shall be submitted by the learned Additional District and Sessions Judge IV, Ponneri, as to why there has been such an inordinate delay is rendering judgment in the aforesaid criminal appeal though it was reserved for judgment on 04.09.2025 to be delivered on 25.09.2025.

7.

List the case on 18.06.2026 for the report of the learned Additional District and Sessions Judge IV, Ponneri. 02.06.2026 nv To

1. The Additional District and Sessions Judge, Ponneri.

2. The Judicial Magistrate, Thiruvottiyur.

3. The Inspector of Police, W-14, All Women Police Station, Thiruvottiyur, Chennai - 19.

5\6

M. NIRMAL KUMAR,J.

nv

4. The Public Prosecutor, High Court, Madras.

02.06.2026 6\6