Geetha Sreerag v. State Represented by

ORDER This Criminal Original Petition has been filed seeking expeditious disposal of C.C.No.9671 of 2021 pending on the file of the Presiding Officer/ Page2 of 5 Metropolitan Magistrate for Exclusive Trial of CCB and CBCID Case, Egmore at Chennai, arising out of the FIR in Crime No.271 of 2019.

2.The case of the petitioner is that based on the complaint lodged by him, a case in Crime No.271 of 2019 was registered by the first respondent for the offences punishable under Section 12(1-A)(a) of Passports Act and Section 420 of IPC and later, altered to Section 12(1-A)(a) of Passports Act. After an inordinate delay, the first respondent filed the final report and the case was taken on file as C.C.No.9671 of 2021 on the file of the Metropolitan Magistrate for Exclusive Trial of CCB and CBCID Case, Egmore at Chennai. Even after the lapse of five years, the trial has not been proceeded any further, necessitating the filing of the present petition.

¶3The learned counsel for the petitioner submitted that the case pertains to the year 2019 and there has been no progress in the trial, despite the filing of the final report in the year 2021.

¶4The learned Government Advocate (crl.side) appearing for the first respondent submitted that the case stands posted for framing of charges on

19.02.2026. Page3 of 5

¶5It is pertinent to state that a Constitution Bench of the Supreme Court, in the case of High Court Bar Association, Allahabad vs. State of Uttar Pradesh reported in (2024) 6 SCC 267, has held that the constitutional courts, in the ordinary course, should refrain from fixing a time-bound schedule for the disposal of cases pending before any other court. The relevant portion of the said decision for the sake of ready reference is reproduced below: "47.3. Constitutional courts, in the ordinary course, should refrain from fixing a time-bound schedule for the disposal of cases pending before any other courts. Constitutional courts may issue directions for the time-bound disposal of cases only in exceptional circumstances. The issue of prioritising the disposal of cases should be best left to the decision of the courts concerned where the cases are pending." (emphasis supplied by this Court).

¶6It has also been held in the aforesaid extracted portion that in exceptional circumstances, constitutional courts may issue directions for time bound disposal of cases.

¶7Considering the facts and circumstances of this case and also considering that the case which arises out of the FIR of the year 2019, is of the year 2021 and the same has been pending for the past five years, this Court Page4 of 5 directs the learned Presiding Officer/ Metropolitan Magistrate for Exclusive Trail of CCB and CBCID Case, Egmore at Chennai, to dispose of the case in C.C.No.9671 of 2021, as expeditiously as possible, preferably within a period of three months from 19.02.2026, i.e., the next date of hearing.

¶8With the above direction, this criminal original petition stands disposed of. 11-02-2026 Index: Yes/No Speaking/Non-speaking order VKR To

1.The Presiding Officer / Metropolitan Magistrate for Exclusive Trail of CCB and CBCID Case, Egmore at Chennai.

2.The Inspector of Police, Central Crime Branch, Vepery, Chennai, 600 007.

3.The Public Prosecutor, High Court of Madras. CRLoOPoNo.o3213oofo2026 A.D.JAGADISHoCHANDIRA,oJ. VKR CRLoOPoNo.o3213oofo2026 11-02-2026 Page5oofo5

Page1 of 5 IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT MADRAS DATED: 11-02-2026 CORAM THE HON'BLE MR JUSTICE A.D.JAGADISH CHANDIRA Geetha Sreerag ..Petitioner(s) Vs State Represented by Inspector of Police, Central Crime Branch, Vepery, Chennai, 600 007. Cr.No.271/2019 ..Respondent(s) Criminal Original Petition is filed under Section 528 of B.N.S.S., to issue a direction to the Presiding officer/ Metropolitan Magistrate for Exclusive Trail of CCB and CBCID Case, Egmore at Chennai to expedite the Proceedings in C.C.No.9671 of 2021 and conclude the same within the time stipulated by this Court. For Petitioner(s): Mr.George William Y For Respondent(s): Mr.S.Santhosh Government Advocate (Crl.Side)