SC frowns over 78 adjournments by Dehradun court; instructs to finish trial in six months
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A bench of Justices AM Khanwilkar, Dinesh Maheshwari and CT Ravikumar of the Supreme Court has expressed dissatisfaction on a trial court in Dehradun for granting 78 adjournments in a 2014 case. The court directed the trial court to complete the trial in the case of cheating and forgery- against Manish Verma, Sanjeev Verma and Neetu Verma- within six months of the date of receipt of the order.
"We have noticed that the trial court, despite having taken cognizance almost seven years back, has not moved in the matter even an inch thereafter, including to frame charges, as may be necessary, despite 78 adjournments in the case," the bench said.
The SC said, "We direct the Investigating Officer to ensure that the witnesses are made available on the scheduled dates for being examined by the trial court." The court further released the three accused on bail on terms and conditions imposed by the trial court. The apex court also directed them to extend full cooperation in the case for early disposal of the trial.
"The trial court is of the opinion that the private respondents are not cooperating in the progress of the trial or are taking unnecessary adjournments, it must record that opinion in the roznamcha (diary) and if that is a persistent approach of the private respondents, it will be open to the trial court to consider cancellation of bail in accordance with law," said the top court in its order dated September 15.
The order was issued on an appeal filed by Dr Atul Krishna. Krishna challenged the Uttarakhand High Court order dismissing his plea for early disposal of the case. As per the appeal, an FIR was registered in 2012 by the petitioner in Meerut against the respondents in connection with a land deal. The matter was transferred to Dehradun, as the major properties and documents were falling in its domain.
The appeal submitted that the respondents had deliberately abused the process of law by taking adjournments on one ground or the other. The respondents submitted that they had never been served.
