1 IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT BOMBAY CRIMINAL APPELLATE JURISDICTION CRMINAL WRIT PETITION NO. 3049 OF 2009 Mr. Mukesh Ramchandra Rajput. ... ... ... Petitioner. Versus The State of Maharashtra & Ors. ... ... ... Respondents. Ms. Seema Gupta i/by Mr. A. M. Saraogi for the Petitioner. Ms. P. H. Kantharia, APP for the Respondents. CORAM : J. N. PATEL and A. A. SAYED, JJ. DATED : 26TH NOVEMBER,2009. P. C.: Heard learned Counsel appearing for the petitioner so also the learned APP for the respondents. This petition can be disposed of at the stage of admission itself. 2. It is submitted by the learned Counsel for the petitioner that by virtue of the order of externment dated 14th September, 2009, the petitioner has been externed by the Dy. Commissioner of Police, Zone-IX, Mumbai for a period of six months by directing to remove himself from the limits of Brihan Mumbai (Mumbai and Mumbai Suburban District). The grievance of the petitioner is that 2 though he has preferred an appeal impugning the order dated 14th September, 2009, by virtue of which the petitioner has been externed, the same is still pending. It is the further grievance of the petitioner that respondent No.1 should be directed to hear and decide the Appeal No. 357 of 2009 filed by the petitioner within the reasonable period as otherwise the very purpose of filing the appeal would be defeated if the appeal is not decided before the period of externment is over. 3. This Court has on numerous occasions observed that the Appellate Authority should take a decision in the matter of such appeals within a reasonable time from the date of filing of the appeal by the externee and preferrably before the one fourth period of externment expires. Therefore, we dispose of this writ petition with a direction to the respondent No.1(a), who is the appellate authority, to take a decision in the matter of appeal filed by the petitioner within a period of two weeks from the receipt of this order. 4. Learned Counsel for the petitioner as also the learned APP to communicate this order to the appellate authority. 5. The writ petition is disposed of, accordingly. Sd/- (J. N. PATEL, J.) Sd/- (A. A. SAYED, J.)