2024 (12) TMI 1127 - SCH - Indian Laws

Civil dispute or criminal offence? - petitioner expresses a grievance that in the absence of any order of stay passed by the High Court, the proceedings against the petitioner which continued have reached the stage of charges being framed, thereby effectively rendering the petition before the High Court infructuous - HELD THAT - The exact reason is not known as to why the learned Judge of the High Court, despite lapse of 14 (fourteen) months since judgment was reserved, could not deliver the judgment and dispose of the petition one way or the other. Be that as it may, without expressing any further comment on the matter of keeping a reserved judgment pending for 14 (fourteen) months and then not delivering the same, we request the roster bench of the High Court to dispose of the petition in accordance with law as early as possible, preferably within three months from date upon hearing all the parties. Should there be any lack of cooperation from any party, the High Court may proceed according to law. Till such time, the matter is considered next by the High Court, there shall be stay of proceedings before the trial court, i.e., the court of the Additional Chief Judicial Magistrate-IV, Varanasi, in Case No. 330 of 2019 - appeal disposed off.

Summary

The Supreme Court ordered that the High Court must dispose of a petition within three months. Proceedings in a case were stayed until then. The special leave petition was disposed of.