V.Rajendiran v. The Deputy Superintendent of Police

O R D E R This Criminal Original Petition has been filed seeking a direction to the Special Court for Exclusive Trial of SC and ST cases, Vellore, Vellore District, to dispose of the case in Spl.S.C.No.82 of 2020 within a time frame.

¶2When the matter was taken up for hearing, the learned Additional Public Prosecutor appearing for the 1st respondent submitted that the case was originally taken on file as Spl.S.C.No.82 of 2020, on the file of the Special Court for Exclusive Trial of SC and ST cases, Vellore, Vellore District. Subsequently, the case was transferred to the file of the Principal District Judge, Ranipet. He further submitted that the trial has commenced and that the case is now posted for examination of the Investigation Officer on 30.01.2026.

¶3Heard learned counsel on either side and perused the materials available on record.

¶4It 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).

¶5It has also been held in the aforesaid extracted portion that in exceptional circumstances, constitutional courts may issue directions for time bound disposal of cases.

¶6Considering the facts and circumstances of this case and also considering that the case is of the year 2019 and the same has been pending for the past seven years, this Court directs the learned Principal District Judge, Ranipet, to dispose of the case, which was transferred from the file of the Special Court for Exclusive Trial of SC and ST cases, Vellore, Vellore District in Spl.S.C.No.82 of 2020, as expeditiously as possible, preferably within a period of three months from the date of receipt of a copy of this order

¶7With the above direction, this criminal original petition stands disposed of.

28.01.2026 rpl To

1.The Principal District Judge, Ranipet

2.The Special Court for Exclusive Trial of SC and ST cases, Vellore, Vellore District.

3.The Deputy Superintendent of Police, Ranipet, Ranipet District.

4.The Public Prosecutor, High Court of Madras, Chennai. A.D.JAGADISH CHANDIRA

, J.

rpl

28.01.2026

IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT MADRAS DATED: 28.01.2026 CORAM: THE HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE A.D.JAGADISH CHANDIRA V.Rajendran ...Petitioner Vs. 1.The Deputy Superintendent of Police, Ranipet, Ranipet District. 2.Surrender ...Respondents Criminal Original Petition filed under Section 528 of Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita/Section 482 Cr.P.C., to direct the Special Court for Exclusive Trial of SC and ST cases, Vellore, Vellore District to dispose of the case in Spl.S.C.No.82 of 2020 within a stipulated period. For Petitioner : Mr.M.Sathish Kumar For R1 : Mr.K.M.D.Muhilan Additional Public Prosecutor For R2 : No appearance