S PADMANABAN Vs. M P APOORVA KUMAR

JUDGEMENT

(1.) THIS criminal original petition has been brought forth by the petitioner seeking to quash the proceedings in C.C.No.6951 of 1991 pending on the file of the learned XI Metropolitan Magistrate, Saidapet, Chennai.

(2.) THE complainant filed a private complaint alleging that he was defamed and the petitioner/accused was liable to be punished under Sections 500 of I.P.C. Admittedly, the case was taken cognizance by the said Court in the year 1991 and it is pending for more than a decade. From the submissions made by the learned counsel for the accused/petitioner, it is seen that P.W.1 complainant in the case was examined in chief in part in the year 1993 and no further progress has been shown. Quite evident it is that it is a part heard case. Under the stated circumstances, no question of quashing the proceedings would arise at this stage. It would be suffice to issue a direction to the XI Metropolitan Magistrate, Saidapet, Chennai to dispose of the matter in accordance with law within a stipulated time. Hence, a direction is issued to the XI Metropolitan Magistrate, Saidapet, Chennai to dispose of the matter within a period of three months herefrom. This petition is ordered accordingly. Consequently, connected Crl.M.Ps are closed.