IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT BOMBAY CRIMINAL APPELLATE JURISDICTION CRIMINAL APPLICATION NO.2308 OF 2008 WITH CRIMINAL APPLICATION NO.2309 OF 2008 Cipla Ltd. .. Applicant (In both the Applications) Vs. The State of Maharashtra & Ors. .. Respondents (In both the Applications) Mr.Mahesh Londhe i/by M/s.Sanjay Udeshi & Co for the Applicant in both the applications. Ms.A.T.Jhaveri, A.P.P for the State in both the applications. CORAM CORAM CORAM : A.S.OKA, J. : A.S.OKA, J. : A.S.OKA, J. DATE : 17th July 2008. P.C.: . The applicant-Company has filed these applications under section 482 of the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973 seeking a direction against the learned Metropolitan Magistrate to dispose of the pending complaints under section 138 of the Negotiable Instruments Act, 1881. The case made out in the application is that though the complaints are partly heard, for no reason the same are being adjourned from time to time. It is submitted that the applicant company has never sought any adjournment but the : 2 : complaints are being adjourned from time to time for no reason. 2. It is true that complaints under section 138 of the Negotiable Instruments Act, 1881 need to be given priority considering the legislative intent. However, it cannot be ignored that there is enormous pendency of cases under section 138 of the said Act in the city of Mumbai and adequate number of Judges are not available to deal with such enormous pendency. Considering the large pendency of such cases before the learned Judge, it is not possible for this Court to give a direction to conclude trial within three months as prayed. It is obvious that even the learned Judge is conscious of the fact that priority needs to be given to the cases under section 138 of the said Act. It must be stated here that the complaints are of the year 2004 and there are large number of older cases pending before the trial Court. Subject to what is observed above, no further direction can be issued and applications are disposed of. (A.S.Oka,J)