Early Conclusion Of Trial Would Enhance People's Faith In Justice Delivery System : Supreme Court

The Supreme Court has observed that early conclusion of criminal trials would enhance the faith of people in justice delivery system.

The bench of Justices MR Shah and Krishna Murari observed thus while disposing an application filed by former Karnataka Minister Gali Janardhan Reddy seeking modification of bail condition to enter, stay and function in the Districts of Bellary in Karnataka and District of Ananthapuram and Cuddapah in Andhra Pradesh.

The bench noted that Reddy's daughter delivered a child recently and now she is at Bellary. Therefore it permitted him to stay at Bellary upto 06.11.2022. However, it also directed that he shall move out of Bellary and remain out of Bellary in Karnataka and Districts of Ananthapuram and Cuddapah in Andhra Pradesh from 07.11.2022 till the trial is concluded. 

Reddy, who is accused in illegal mining case, is facing the trial for offences under Sections 120(B), 420, 379, 409, 468, 411, 427 and 447 of the Indian Penal Code, 1860, section 2 of the Indian Forest Act, 1927, Rule 21 read with Rules 4(1), 4(1)(A) and 23 of the Mines and Minerals (Development and Regulation) Act, 1957.

"It is very unfortunate that even after a period of 11 years of filing the FIR and despite the observations made by this Court directing the trial to be expedited, the trial has not begun..In a case like this, it is always in the larger interest that the trial is concluded at the earliest. Early conclusion of the trial would enhance the faith of people in justice delivery system. The trial must come to its logical end at the earliest. Any attempt on the part of the accused to delay the trial of serious offences is to be dealt with iron hands. More the delay, more the possibilities of influencing the witnesses", the bench observed

The court issued the following directives:

(1) Learned trial Court / Special Court is hereby directed to conduct the trial on day to day basis 12 from 09.11.2022. We direct the learned Special Court to conclude the trial within a period of six months from 09.11.2022 without fail;

(2) That the prosecution may examine first, the witnesses from Bellary in Karnataka and District of Ananthapuram and Cuddapah in Andhra Pradesh as far as possible. It will be the duty of the investigating agency to keep all the witnesses present for the purpose of their depositions / examination in chief;

(3) All the accused are hereby directed to cooperate the learned Special Court in conclusion of the trial at the earliest and within the period stipulated hereinabove and any attempt on the part of the accused to delay the trial shall be viewed very seriously;

(4) As it is reported that the daughter of the applicant has delivered a child recently and now she is at Bellary, the applicant is permitted to stay at Bellary upto 06.11.2022. It is specifically directed that the applicant shall move out of Bellary and remain out of Bellary in Karnataka and Districts of Ananthapuram and Cuddapah in Andhra Pradesh from 07.11.2022 till the trial is concluded.

Case details

Gali Janardhan Reddy vs State of Andhra Pradesh | 2022 LiveLaw (SC) 829 | MA 528 OF 2020 | 10 October 2022 | Justices MR Shah and Krishna Murari

Counsel: Sr. Adv Meenakshi Arora for applicant, ASG Madhavi Diwan and Advocate Sachin Sharma

Headnotes

Criminal Trial - Early conclusion of the trial would enhance the faith of people in justice delivery system. The trial must come to its logical end at the earliest.

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