K K TIWARI Vs. SUPERINTENDENT OF POLICE CBI

JUDGEMENT

(1.) IN this writ petition under Article 226 of the Constitution of India, the petitioner has prayed for issuance of a writ of (SIC) or any other appropriate writ, order or direction quashing the proceeding pending in the Special Criminal Case No. 9 of 1971 in the Court of Special Judge for CBI cases, Jaipur on the ground of violation of his fundamental right of speedy public trial under Article 21 of the Constitution of India.

(2.) THE facts giving rise to this writ petition are not material because the question posed for our consideration is a (SIC) question of (SIC) so, (SIC) facts may be briefly stated since they would provide the (SIC) drop against which the question of law arises for consideration. The (SIC) for the factual matrix may be stated thus:

(3.) IT is true that the right (SIC) a speedy trial as constitutional guarantee is a some what recent origin. How ever, by new it is well settled by precedential mandate of the Apex Court that the right to a speedy public trial is a part and parcel of the constitutional guarantee under Article 21 of the Constitution Since the matter is no longer res integra, it would be wasteful and unnecessary to examine the issue of principle afresh Suffice it would be if we quote the principles laid down from the various judgments of the Supreme Court. In Hussainara Khatoon v. State of Bihar : 1979CriLJ1036 , the Supreme Court had the occasion to consider this aspect of the matter and, it is held that the right to speedy trial is a fundamental right implicit in Article 21 of the Constitution. If an accused is not tried speedily and his case remains pending before the Magistrate or the Sessions Judge for an unreasonable length of time, it is clear that his fundamental right to speedy trial would be violated unless.. of course, the trial is held up account of some interim order passed by the Superior court or the accused is responsible for the delay in the trial of the case. The Supreme Court in that case further observed that consequence of the violation of fundamental right to speedy trial would be that the prosecution itself would be liable to be quashed on the ground that it is in breach of the fundamental right.