Fro North Range v. Gangadharan

D.BHARATHA CHAKRAVARTHY, J.

Already, this Court disposed of this Suo Motu Transfer Case on 29.10.2025. However, today, this matter is listed under the caption 'For being mentioned'. The error mentioned is corrected and the following is the corrected order:- "IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT MADRAS DATED: 29.10.2025

CORAM:

THE HONOURABLE MR. JUSTICE D.BHARATHA CHAKRAVARTHY (STC.No.501 of 2020 of the Judicial Magistrate Court, Udhagamandalam Taluk, Nilgiris) For Petitioner : Mrs.G.V.Kasthuri Additional Public Prosecutor

ORDER

This Suo Motu Case is dealt with in an extraordinary manner by the Dedicated Bench, pursuant to Suo Motu.W.P.(Crl.) No.618 of 2025. 2.The case was registered in Or.No.25 of 2019 dated 26.02.2019 for the alleged offence under Section 21(d) and 21(b) of The Tamil Nadu Forest Act, 1882. The allegation in this case is that the accused thinking that he is safeguarding his own agricultural fields to prevent animals have set fire for some of the weeds and some dry woods that were present in the forest area. The said occurrence happened in the year 2019 and the case is pending for the past six years. It is reported that there is no previous or subsequent case Page No.1 of 3

as against the accused.

3. Considering the factual matrix, context of the case, the antecedents of the accused and the fact that the accused is attending the case regularly, it is evident that even if the accused is brought to face trial, it would impinge upon his right to a speedy trial. Due to the passage of time, a meaningful trial is unlikely, and no useful purpose would be served.

4. Accordingly, the case in STC.No.501 of 2020 on the file of Judicial Magistrate Court, Udhagamandalam Taluk, Nilgiris shall stand quashed and this Suo Motu Transfer Case stand disposed of. 29.10.2025 ssa Note to the Trial Court:

electronically alone. The Trial Court shall take note of the order and accordingly classify the case pending before them as allowed / dismissed / disposed of, etc, and while doing so, consider any applications such as disposal of properties, etc., and pass appropriate orders, as may be necessary. Further, the Court below is directed to dispatch the copy of this order to all concerned."

17.11.2025 ssa Page No.2 of 3

D.BHARATHA CHAKRAVARTHY, J.

ssa 17.11.2025 Page No.3 of 3