JAMES TONER BRITISH NATIONAL Vs. STATE OF GOA

JUDGEMENT

(1.) HEARD Ms. Collasso, learned Advocate for the petitioner and Mr. Rivonkar, learned Public Prosecutor for the respondents. Rule. By consent, heard forthwith.

(2.) BY this petition, the petitioner, who is the accused in Special Case No.18/2009 pending before the Special NDPS Court at Mapusa, seeks a direction that the case against him be taken up expeditiously on day to day basis.

(3.) REPLY filed on behalf of the respondents discloses that presently there are 87 matters pending before the NDPS Court at Mapusa out of which 43 matters are of foreign nationals, 21 matters are custody matters. In the Special Case No.18/2009, till 17/07/2012 six witnesses have been examined. It is further the case of the respondents that the NDPS Court is entrusted with all the NDPS matters and as such, is not in a position to take up all the NDPS matters for trial.