IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT BOMBAY APPELLATE SIDE CRIMINAL WRIT PETITION NO. 2066 OF 2009 M/s. DISHTI INDUSTRIES & ANR. .. .. PETITIONERS Vs. UNION OF INDIA & ORS. .. .. RESPONDENTS Mr. Naresh S. Thacker for the petitioner Mr. D. N. Salvi for R CORAM:-SMT. RANJANA DESAI & SMT. MRIDULA BHATKAR, JJ. DATE:- 3/2/2010 P.C. In this petition, filed under Article 226 of Constitution of India the petitioner has prayed that a direction be given to learned Magistrate Ratnagiri to forthwith hear the discharge application dated 2nd July, 2008 filed by the petitioner in Criminal Case No. 190 of 2006. The petitioner has also prayed that learned Magistgrate be asked not to proceed with the trial in the Criminal Case No. 190 of 2006. We are of the opinion that the two prayers are not consistent. Learned counsel for the petitioners states that as of today he is not pressing prayer (b). He is, however, pressing prayer (a) because discharge application is filed as far back as in July, 2008 and is not disposed of by learned Magistrate till date. We find some justification in this grievance. We are of the opinion that learned Magistrate should dispose of the discharge application since it is pending from July, 2008. In the circumstances, without expressing any opinion on the merits of the case, we direct learned Chief Judicial Magistrate, Ratnagiri to dispose of the petitioner’s Discharge Application dated 2nd July, 2008 as expeditiously as possible and at any rate within a period of four months from the date of receipt of this order. Learned Magistrate shall dispose of the discharge application independently and in accordance law as we have not expressed any opinion on the merits of the case. The petition is disposed of. (Smt. Ranjana Desai, J.) (Smt. Mridula Bhatkar, J.)