IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT PATNA Cr.Misc. No.25836 of 2007 SHAUKAT ALI, SON OF ABDUL GAFUR, RESIDENT OF VILLAGE- KESHOPUR, P.S. THAWE, DISTRICT- GOPALGANJ………………………………………………PETITIONER. Versus 1. THE STATE OF BIHAR . 2. NIKHAT PRAVEEN, WIFE OF SHAUKAT ALI, RESIDENT OF VILLAGE-KESHOPUR, P.S. THAWE, DISTRICT- GOPALGANJ…………………………………OPPOSITE PARTIES. ----------- For the petitioner : Mrs. Poonam Kumari, Advocate. For O.P. No.2 : None. For the State : Mr. Jharkhandi Upadhayay, A.P.P. ------------ 3. 23.10.2008. Heard learned counsel for the petitioner as also the learned A.P.P. for the State. Notice was issued to the complainant who has been impleaded herein as O.P.No.2 but notwithstanding the service of notice she has chosen not to appear. The petitioner who happens to be one of the accused of Manjhagarh (Thawe) P.S. Case No. 180 of 1996 is aggrieved by order dated 14.3.1997 passed therein by Sri Jai Shankar Prasad Choudhary, the erstwhile Judicial Magistrate, First Class, Gopalganj, whereby he had taken cognizance of offences under Sections 498-A and 406 I.P.C. and 3/4 of the Dowry Prohibition Act and had issued summons to the petitioner. The only grievance of the petitioner is that ever since 1997 there has not been any progress in this case and the case is still lying at the very stage as on 14.3.1997. Since more than 11 years have passed and no positive progress has been made in this case, it is hereby directed that the court in seisin of - 2 - the case will dispose of the same as expeditiously as possible, preferably within 4 months from the date of receipt of this order. With the aforesaid observations, this application is disposed of. P.S. (Abhijit Sinha,J)