IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT PATNA Criminal Miscellaneous No.28860 of 2011 Ramji Singh @ Ramjee Manjhi @ Sadhuji Manjhi Versus The State Of Bihar ----------------- 04/ 21.12.2011 Heard counsel for the petitioner and counsel for the State. The prayer for bail of the petitioner was earlier rejected on 17.09.2009, in Criminal Miscellaneous No. 23363 of 2009 by recording that the allegation against the petitioner is quite serious and also that he had a chequered history of criminal antecedent. Counsel for the petitioner would submit that the petitioner is in custody since, 04.01.2008 i.e. almost for a period of four years and that on account of the Court of 2nd Additional District & Sessions Judge, Gaya being vacant, the trial of the petitioner has not made any headway. As the petitioner has chequered history of criminal antecedent, this Court is not inclined to grant bail to him in connection with present case, which is for the offences punishable under Section 395 and 397 of the Indian Penal Code. At the same time the report of the Senior Superintendent of Police, Gaya dated 19.11.2011, submitted to this Court would go to show that there are only eight witnesses to be examined and they can be produced, if the vacancy of the trial Court is filled up. Considering this aspect particularly the long incarceration of the petitioner in jail, this Court would direct the Sessions Judge, Gaya to ensure that the trial of the connected Sessions case being Sessions Trial No. 117 of 2011 arising out of Wazirganj P.S case no. 93 of 2005 is taken up by him (Sessions Judge, Gaya himself). Since, Senior Superintendent of Police, Gaya has already informed this Court that the witnesses can be produced by the prosecution, it would also direct the Sessions Judge, Gaya to ensure that the trial of the petitioner is concluded within a period of six months from the date of receipt/production of a copy of this order. With the aforementioned observation and direction, this application is disposed of. Ranjan (Mihir Kumar Jha, J.)