MANTU PASWAN Vs. STATE OF BIHAR

JUDGEMENT

(1.) Heard learned counsel for the appellant, learned counsel for respondent no. 2 and learned Spl. P.P. for the State.

(2.) It has been submitted by learned counsel for the appellant that this is the 3rd attempt of the appellant to seek bail from this Court. Earlier the prayers for bail of the appellant were rejected vide order dtd. 16/7/2021 passed in Criminal Appeal (SJ) No. 1232 of 2021 by a Co-ordinate Bench of this Court and vide order dtd. 22/9/2022 passed in Criminal Appeal (SJ) No. 1415 of 2022 by this Court. While rejecting the prayer for bail, this Court directed the learned trial court to conclude the trial within a period of six months, but till date trial has not been concluded and there is no likelihood of early conclusion of trial.

(3.) Learned counsel appearing for respondent no. 2 submits that prosecution evidence in this case has been closed before the learned trial court, but due to the fact that Special Court under the Scheduled Castes and the Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, 1989 is lying vacant and the In-charge court has no power to proceed with the trial and hence, the trial has not been concluded.