In the High Court of Punjab and Haryana at Chandigarh ...... Criminal Misc.-M No.1274 of 2009 ..... Date of decision:19.1.2009 Satya Devi .....Petitioner v. State of Punjab .....Respondent .... Present: Mr. Rajesh Kumar Girdhar, Advocate for the petitioner. ..... S.S. Saron, J. This petition under Section 482 of the Code of Criminal Procedure has been filed seeking quashing of case FIR No.331 dated 3.12.2003 (Annexure-P.1) registered at Police Station City, Abohar, District Ferozepur for the offences under Sections 406 and 420 Indian Penal Code. During the course of hearing, it has been submitted by learned counsel that the petitioner is an old lady aged 74 years and she is facing the travails of prosecution since the date of registration of the FIR on 3.12.2003. It is submitted that charge in the case was framed on 9.9.2006. Thereafter, only three prosecution witnesses have been examined and four remain to be examined. However, the prosecution is taking adjournments on one pretext or the other. After giving my thoughtful consideration to the matter it may be noticed that the trial in the case is in progress and four witnesses remain to be examined. Therefore, it would be inappropriate to quash the FIR (Annexure-P.1) at this stage as the matter is under gaze of a competent Cr. Misc.-M No.1274 of 2009 [2] Court which has taken cognizance of the case. Learned counsel for the petitioner has then submitted that keeping in view the old age of the petitioner, her personal appearance before the trial Court be dispensed with. This, in my view, is a reasonable. The petitioner is an old lady who is 74 years and it would be just and expedient in the facts and circumstances that she be allowed to appear before the trial Court through her counsel except on the dates when her presence may be required. Accordingly, the criminal miscellaneous petition is disposed of with the direction that in case the petitioner files an application before the trial Court seeking her exemption from personal appearance, the same shall be granted on such terms and conditions as may be deemed appropriate by the learned trial Court. However, the same shall include that the petitioner shall have no objection in case the evidence of the prosecution is recorded in her absence, that she will appear through her counsel and that will put in appearance on the dates as may be required by the learned trial Court for the prosecution of the case. January 19, 2009. (S.S. Saron) Judge *hsp*