Calcutta High CourtCRR/17/2024disposed

Shahnaz Begum v. The State

2024-02-27Hon'Ble Justice Jay Sengupta2 pages

IN THE HIGH COURT AT CALCUTTA

[ CIRCUIT BENCH AT PORT BLAIR ] *** CRR/17/2024 Shahnaz Begum Vs.

The State Ms. Vinita Devi .... for the petitioner [on behalf of Mr.Gopala Binnu Kumar] Ms. A.S.Zinu ... for the State February 27, 2024 [SR] Item No.9 This is an application seeking speedy trial of G.R.Case No.1802 of 2014 presently pending before the learned Judicial Magistrate First Class-I, South Andaman District at Port Blair. Learned counsel appearing for the petitioner submits as follows. The petitioner is an accused in this case. An FIR was registered on 03.12.2014 under sections 67(A) and 66 (C) of the Information Technology Act. The petitioner was produced under arrest before the learned Trial Court on 01.02.2015. On 23.02.2015, she was granted bail. After submission of charge sheet, cognizance was taken on 09.09.2015 and charges were framed on 10.04.2017. Yet, till date, only one witness out of a total of 7 witnesses, could be examined by the prosecution. The petitioner has always co-operated with the investigating agency and thereafter with the prosecution. But, on some pretext or the other, even on the ground of the absence of witness, the trial got protracted.

Learned counsel appearing on behalf of the State submits that there was some procedural delay in the proceeding. It appears that the criminal case started in the year 2014, in which the petitioner suffered custody for some time in 2015, has not

yet been concluded. This is despite the fact that charges were framed as far back as on 10.04.2017.

In view of the above and in the interest of justice, the learned Trial Court is directed to conclude the proceedings as expeditiously as possible, without granting any unnecessary adjournment to any of the parties, preferably within a period of ten months from the next date of hearing.

With these observations, the revisional application is disposed of.

Urgent certified photostat copy of this order, if applied for, be supplied to the parties, upon compliance of usual formalities. ( Jay Sengupta, J. )