Roni Sheikh v. State Of West Bengal
IN THE HIGH COURT AT CALCUTTA
Criminal Revisional Jurisdiction CRR 1358 of 2023 15-06-2023 Subha Item no. 89 Ct no.34 Roni Sheikh -versus- State of West Bengal Ms. Shabana Hasin ....for the petitioner.
Mr. S. G. Mukherji, ld PP Mr. Saryati Datta ...for the State.
Petitioner is directed to serve a copy of the revisional application upon Mr. Saryati Datta, learned advocate who ordinarily appears on behalf of the State. His appointment may be regularized by the concerned Authorities in due course. Learned advocate for the petitioner has expressed her anxiety regarding the fact that the petitioner was arrested on 16th February, 2020 and till date he is in custody, i.e., 40 months. Learned advocate for the petitioner submits that the prosecution has cited 11 witnesses and out of the same only one witness has been examined till date and there is no possibility of the trial being completed in the near future. The anxiety expressed by the petitioner is justified because of the long detention suffered. In view of the special circumstances of the case, I direct that the learned special court, NDPS Act-cum-ADJ, 2nd Court, Berhampore, Murshidabad would in this case direct the Office of the Superintendent of Police, Murshidabad to engage a Nodal Officer who would monitor regarding the appearance of the witnesses on the dates so fixed by the trial court.
No unnecessary adjournments should be granted on and from the next dates so fixed.
The learned trial court is directed to fix at least a schedule of four dates and fix a schedule on each and every month so that the trial of the case can be taken to its logical conclusion within a reasonable period of time.
The learned trial court is further directed that in case any witness appears, the learned trial court would in the circumstances of the case try to complete the examination-in-chief and crossexamination on the same date until and unless the circumstances are beyond the control of the court.
The learned Public Prosecutor appearing in this case would produce the materials, documents and exhibits on the dates fixed for examination of the witnesses concerned. All efforts be taken by the stake-holders to complete the trial by 31st December, 2023 considering the period of detention of the present petitioner. With the aforesaid observations, the present revisional application being CRR 1358 of 2023 is disposed of. Pending applications, if any, are consequently disposed of. Learned advocate for the State is directed to communicate this order to the Superintendent of Police, Nadia as well as the Public Prosecutor conducting the instant case. All concerned parties are to act in terms of a copy of this order duly downloaded from the official website of this court. [Tirthankar Ghosh, J]