Crl. Misc. No.M-19575 of 2011 [1] IN THE HIGH COURT OF PUNJAB AND HARYANA AT CHANDIGARH. Crl. Misc. No. M-19575 of 2011 Date of Decision: July 7, 2011 Lakhbir Singh …..Petitioner Vs. State of Punjab …..Respondent CORAM: HON’BLE MR. JUSTICE M.M.S. BEDI. -.- Present:- Mr.K.S.Bassi, Advocate for the petitioner. -.- M.M.S. BEDI, J. (ORAL) The petitioner is being tried for the homicide of his wife. He has been charged under Section 304 B IPC and in the alternative under Section 302 IPC on the basis of the supplementary challan. Counsel for the petitioner submits that there are contradictory allegations against the petitioner in the two challans, i.e. in one there are allegations of demand of dowry and in the other, there are allegations that the petitioner had killed his wife on account of suspicion of her having Crl. Misc. No.M-19575 of 2011 [2] relation with other person. Counsel for the petitioner submits that the petitioner has been in custody since October 2, 2009 and that only examination-in-chief of the complainant stands recorded and on the request of prosecution, in application under Section 319 Cr.P.C., the parents have also been summoned whereas there is no evidence against the petitioner. I have considered the contentions of learned counsel for the petitioner and I am of the opinion that the progress of the trial seems to be at a snail pace. No opinion can be expressed on merits at this stage whether the petitioner is responsible for the murder of his wife or whether it is a case of dowry death attracting the presumptions of law under Section 113 A of the Evidence Act. It will also not be prudent at this stage to enter into the niceties of the trial to determine the strength of the evidence which has been collected against the petitioner but taking into consideration the period of detention already suffered by the petitioner which is approximately two years, it is ordered that the trial Court will conclude the trial within a period of six months after July 9, 2011, the date fixed or from the date after the receipt of a certified copy of this order whichever is later. Dismissed. It is made clear that in case the trial is not completed as directed, it will be open to the petitioner to approach this Court again and seek the concession of regular bail. July 7, 2011 (M.M.S.BEDI) sanjay JUDGE