1` IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT BOMBAY NAGPUR BENCH, NAGPUR Criminal Application No. 822/08 In Criminal Appeal No. 620/04 Namdeo Vitthal Lokhande vs. State of Maharashtra ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Notes, Office Memoranda of Coram, appearances, Court's orders Court's or Judge's or directions and Registrar's orders. Orders. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Shri J.Y.Ghurde, Advocate for the applicant. Shri T.A.Mirza, A.P.P. for the respondent. CORAM : A.P.LAVANDE & A.B.CHAUDHARI, JJ DATE : 17.03.2008 The applicant-accused who has been convicted for the offence punishable under Section 376 and sentenced to suffer imprisonment for life seeks suspension of sentence and grant of bail. The accused is in jail from the date of Judgment i.e. 25.8.2004. 2. Mr. Ghurde, the learned counsel for the applicant submits that the sentence of imprisonment for life imposed on the applicant for the offence punishable under Section 376 of the Indian Penal Code is harsh and the applicant has been in jail for the period of about three and half years. In view of this position, the hearing of the Criminal Appeal No. 620/2004 be expedited and liberty be granted to the applicant to file private paper book. He further submitted that in case the hearing of the appeal is expedited the applicant will not press the application. 3. We find considerable merit in the submission of Mr. Ghurde. Having regard to the fact that the applicant is in jail from 25.8.2005 and the sentence imposed on the applicant we deem it 2` appropriate to expedite the final hearing of the Criminal Appeal No. 620/04. The applicant to file private paper book within a period of 12 weeks, in the event the paper book is not ready. The Criminal Appeal No. 620/2004 be placed on final hearing board in the week beginning from 30th June, 2008. The application stands disposed of as not pressed subject to the observations made hereinabove. Judge Judge patle