Saheb Mondal v. State Of West Bengal

NB 02.02.2021 CRR 369 of 2021 Ct. No. 32 In the matter of:- Saheb Mondal ...petitioner Mr. Surajit Basu ...for the petitioner.

Mr. Prasun Kumar Datta, Mr. Pratick Bose.

...for the State.

This is an application seeking an expeditious disposal of a proceeding in which a charge sheet was submitted under Section 21(c) of the Narcotic Drugs Psychotropic Substance Act. Let a copy of this application be served upon Mr. Prasun Kumar Datta and Mr. Pratick Bose, learned Counsels who ordinarily appear on behalf of the State and are present in Court today. Their engagement may be regularised by the competent authority of the State in due course. Learned Counsel appearing on behalf o the petitioner submits as follows. The petitioner is an accused in this case and he is in custody in connection with the instant case since 17.10.2018. Although the impugned proceeding was initiated in October, 2018 and even charges were framed on 19.09.2019, till date, not a singe witness has been examined. There are 13 witnesses to be examined as per the charge sheet. The impugned proceeding has remained pending for no fault of the part of the present petitioner.

I have heard the submissions of the learned Counsels appearing on behalf of the petitioner and the State and have perused the revision petition.

Learned Counsel appearing on behalf of the State submits that it will be in the interest of justice if the impugned proceeding is expedited.

No prejudice will be caused to anyone, if a direction for an expeditious disposal of the proceeding is passed in this case. It appears that some delay has been occasioned in concluding the impugned proceeding, especially considering the fact that the petitioner is in custody since 17.10.2018.

In view of the above and in the interest of justice, I request the learned Trial Court to conclude the proceeding as expeditiously as possible without granting any unnecessary adjournment to any of the parties, preferably within a period of one year from the next date of hearing. With these observations, the revisional application is disposed of. Urgent photostat certified copy of this order may be supplied to the parties expeditiously, if applied for.

(Jay Sengupta, J.)