Pratik Sengupta v. State Of West Bengal And ANR

C.R.R. 2312 of 2021 Court No.

Item 20 ssi (via video conference) 24.11.

In the matter of:- Pratik Sengupta Mr. Sabyasachi Bhattacharjee Ms. Barnali Pal ...for the petitioner Mr. Imran Ali Ms. Debjani Sahu ...for the State This is an application seeking an expeditious disposal of a proceeding in which a charge-sheet was submitted under Sections 323, 341 read with Section 114 of the Indian Penal Code.

Let a copy of this application be served upon Mr. Imran Ali and Ms. Debjani Sahu, learned advocates, who are present in Court today and who ordinarily appear on behalf of the State. Their engagement may be regularised in due course by the competent authority of the State. Learned counsel appearing on behalf of the petitioner submits as follows. The petitioner is an accused in this case. Although the FIR was lodged in 2013, and the charges were framed on 20.12.2013, till date, the proceeding could not be concluded. During the course of trial, the defacto-complainant being CSW 1 did

not appear before the learned trial Judge despite several notices. Accordingly, the name was expunged from the list of witnesses. However, the other witnesses have also not turned up. The matter has remained pending for no fault of the present petitioner.

Learned counsel appearing on behalf of the State submits that the State would not come in the way, if a direction is passed to expedite the proceeding. 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 an inordinate delay has been occasioned in concluding the trial.

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 six months from the next date of hearing.

The learned trial Judge shall be at liberty to take necessary steps to ensure the attendance of the witnesses.

With these observations, the revisional application is disposed of.

Urgent photostat certified copies of this order may be delivered to the learned Advocates for the parties, if applied for, upon compliance of all formalities. (Jay Sengupta, J.)