Bapi Mitra @ Apu v. State Of West Bengal

NB 11.03.2021 CRR 723 of 2021 Ct. No. 32 In the matter of:- Bapi Mitra @ Apu ...petitioner Mr. Sudip ghosh Chowdhury, Mr. A. Das, Mr. Abhishek Bose.

...for the petitioners.

Mr. Anwar Hossain, 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 and Psychotropic Substances Act. Let a copy of this application be served upon Mr. Anwar Hossain and Mr. Pratick Bose, learned Counsels who ordinarily appear on behalf of the State and who 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 of the petitioner submits as follows. The petitioner is an accused in this case. The petitioner is in custody since the date of his arrest i.e. 23.11.2019. Although the proceeding was initiated in November, 2019, till date the proceeding could not be concluded. A Charge sheet was submitted in May, 2020 citing eleven prosecution witnesses. 24.03.2021 has been fixed as the next date for framing of charge. The matter has remained pending for no fault of the present petitioner.

Learned Counsel appearing on behalf of the State submits that in the interest of justice, the impugned proceeding should be expedited. I have heard the submissions of the learned Counsels appearing on behalf of the petitioner and the State and have perused the revision

petition.

It appears that some delay was occasioned in concluding the proceeding, especially considering the fact that the petitioner is in custody since 23.11.2019.

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 and in particular, to decide the question of framing of charge at the earliest, preferably on the next date fixed for hearing i.e. on 24.03.2021 or within seven days from then.

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.)