IN THE HIGH COURT OF PUNJAB & HARYANA AT CHANDIGARH Criminal Misc. No. M-826 of 2010 Date of decision : February 08, 2010 Devinder Kumar ....Petitioner versus State of Punjab ....Respondent Coram: Hon'ble Mr. Justice L.N. Mittal Present : Mr. R.K. Gupta, Advocate, for the petitioner Mr. Vivek Chauhan, AAG Punjab Mr. Suveer Sheokand, Advocate, for the complainant L.N. Mittal, J. (Oral) Devinder Kumar has filed the instant 4th petition for bail in case FIR No. 218 dated 10.11.2007, under sections 306, 498-A IPC, Police Station Sarabha Nagar, Ludhiana. On the preceding date of hearing, learned counsel for the petitioner stated that vide order dated 31.3.2009 passed in Criminal Misc. No. M-8437 of 2009 whereby said bail petition of the petitioner was dismissed as withdrawn, trial court was directed to expedite the trial but the trial has not yet concluded. In view of the aforesaid submission, report was ordered to be obtained from the trial court regarding progress of the trial since after Criminal Misc. No. M-826 of 2010 -2- 31.3.2009. The trial court has accordingly sent the progress report. Perusal of the report sent by the trial Judge reveals a very disturbing state of affairs. Inspite of direction by this Court for expediting the trial, not only defence counsel sought various adjournments, mostly on flimsy grounds but also the trial Judge granted adjournments merely for the asking, without caring for the direction issued by this Court. It is apparent that the defence counsel himself did not allow the trial to progress, probably to raise contention as raised by the learned counsel for the petitioner that the trial court has not concluded trial inspite of direction of this Court. In view of the aforesaid the instant bail petition is dismissed. However, the trial Judge is advised to be careful in future in granting adjournments without sufficient grounds particularly when the accused is in custody and also there is direction from this Court to expedite the trial. The trial court shall now comply with the direction of this Court in letter and spirit and shall expedite the trial. Unless there is very strong and exceptional ground for adjournment that may be sought on behalf of defence counsel, the trial court shall not grant any such adjournment. ( L.N. Mittal ) February 08, 2010 Judge 'tiwana'