Panneerselvam v. The State Of Tamilnadu

BEFORE THE MADURAI BENCH OF MADRAS HIGH COURT DATED : 26.08.2025 CORAM :

THE HON`BLE MR.JUSTICE B.PUGALENDHI Panneerselvam ... Petitioner Vs.

1.The Inspector of Police, Keelarajakularaman Police Station, Virdhunagar District.

2.Chinnathai ... Respondents Prayer : Criminal Original Petition filed under Section 528 BNSS, to direct the learned Judicial Magistrate, Rajapalayam, Virudhunagar District to expedite the trial in C.C.No.348 of 2014 within a time frame as may be fixed by this Court.

For Petitioner : Mr.D.Rajaboopathy For R1 : Mr.P.Kottaichamy, Government Advocate(Crl.side) 1/5

ORDER

The petitioner, who is the accused in C.C.No.348 of 2014 on the file of the learned Judicial Magistrate, Rajapalayam, Virudhunagar District, has filed this petition seeking a direction to the trial Court to complete the trial within a time frame.

2.When this petition is taken up for hearing today, the learned Government Advocate(Crl.side) appearing for the first respondent has confirmed that the case is still pending without any examination of the witnesses.

3.Considering the manner in which the case, which has been taken on file in the year 2014, is kept pending without any progress, this Court by its earlier order dated 19.08.2025, has directed the Additional Superintendent of Police, Virudhunagar District and the learned Judicial Magistrate, Rajapalayam to file a report before this Court. Reports have been filed assigning some reasons. 2/5

4.Fact remains that final report, which has been filed in the year 2014 is still kept pending. Police has not produced any witnesses. The trial Court is also having some justifications. Ultimately, the defacto complainant and the petitioner are sufferers.

5.Perusal of the reports revealed that both the Police as well as the trial Court have contributed for the delay. Therefore, this criminal original petition is allowed by reminding the Judicial Officer as well as the respondent Police that they are having certain responsibilities towards defacto complainant as well as the petitioner, who is facing an allegation offence under Sections 406, 420, 471, 120(B) IPC, for the past 11 years. The trial Court is directed to complete the trial in C.C.No.348 of 2014, as expeditiously as possible, preferably, within a period of three months from the date of receipt of a copy of this order. The respondent Police shall produce all the witnesses, without fail. 26.08.2025 gns 3/5

To 1.The Judicial Magistrate, Rajapalayam, Virudhunagar District.

2.The Inspector of Police, Keelarajakularaman Police Station, Virdhunagar District.

3.The Additional Public Prosecutor, Madurai Bench of Madras High Court, Madurai.

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B.PUGALENDHI,J gns 26.08.2025 5/5