Anusha Princy Bashyam v. The State Rep By, The Inspector Of Police

IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT MADRAS

DATED: 15.12.2025

CORAM:

THE HON'BLE MR.JUSTICE A.D.JAGADISH CHANDIRA Anusha Princy Bashyam

...Petitioner

Vs.

The State represented by its Inspector of Police, All Women Police Station, Ambattur, Chennai.

(Crime No.18 of 2022)

...Respondent

Criminal Original Petition filed under Section 482 of Cr.P.C./528 of BNSS, 2023 to direct the learned Judicial Magistrate at Ambattur to expedite the trial and dispose of C.C.No.699 of 2023 within a time frame to be fixed by this Court.

For Petitioner : Mr.K.Sakthivel For Respondent : Mr.S.Santhosh Government Advocate (Crl.Side) for R1

ORDER

This criminal original petition has been filed seeking to expedite the trial and to consequently dispose of the case in C.C.No.699 of 2023 within the time frame fixed by this Court.

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2. The case of the prosecution is that on the basis of the complaint given by the petitioner-de facto complainant, a case in Cr.No.18 of 2022 was registered against the accused for the alleged offences under Sections 498(A), 406 and 420 of Indian Penal Code, 1860 and Section 4 of the Dowry Prohibition Act, 1961. Upon completion of the investigation, a final report was filed before the Judicial Magistrate Court, Ambattur and the same has been taken on file as C.C.No.699 of 2023. Despite the lapse of two years, there has been no progress in the aforesaid case. Hence, the present petition has been filed seeking the aforesaid relief.

3. The learned counsel for the petitioner submits that there are, in total, nine accused who, by taking turns one after the other, are protracting the proceedings and preventing the trial Court from effectively questioning them and proceedings further. Consequently, the petitioner is being made to suffer unnecessary hardship. Hence, he prayed for a direction to expedite the trial and to dispose of the case in C.C.No.699 of 2023 within a time frame to be fixed by this Court.

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4. The learned Government Advocate (Crl.Side) appearing for the respondent-Police submits that the matter now stands posted on 03.02.2026 for questioning.

5. 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).

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6. 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.

7. Considering the facts and circumstances of this case and also considering that the case is of the year 2022, this Court directs the learned Judicial Magistrate, Ambattur, to ensure the appearance of the accused on the specified date, i.e.03.02.2026, and to proceed with the trial in accordance with law and complete the same as expeditiously as possible, preferably within a period of one year from 03.02.2026.

8. Accordingly, this criminal original petition stands disposed of. 15.12.2025 rap NCC : Yes/No 4/6

To:

1. The Inspector of Police, All Women Police Station, Ambattur, Chennai.

2. The Public Prosecutor, Madras High Court.

3. The Judicial Magistrate Court, Ambattur 5/6

A.D.JAGADISH CHANDIRA, J.

rap 15.12.2025 6/6