Bombay High Court
PANKAJ JAIPRAKASH GOEL AND ANRversusSTATE OF MAHARASHTRA AND ORS
- Decided
- Disposal
- Disposed Off
Holding
The High Court ordered the 4th Judicial Magistrate First Class, Belapur, to dispose of the pending criminal applications within four weeks and disposed of the writ petition.
Summary
The petitioners, Pankaj Jaiprakash Goel & Anr., filed Criminal Applications Nos. 1676/2024 and 1677/2024 before the 4th Judicial Magistrate First Class, Belapur, Navi Mumbai. Eight months elapsed without a final order, prompting a writ petition in the Bombay High Court alleging undue delay. The High Court examined whether it could intervene to compel the magistrate to dispose of the pending applications within a reasonable time. It held that the court has the authority to direct the magistrate to render a decision to prevent violation of the petitioners' right to a speedy trial. Accordingly, the court ordered the magistrate to decide the applications within four weeks of the order’s upload and directed the petitioners' counsel to produce a copy of the order before the magistrate. The petition was thereafter disposed of on these terms.
Issues considered
- Whether the High Court can direct a Judicial Magistrate to dispose of pending criminal applications within a specified time frame
- Whether the delay in disposal infringes the petitioners' right to a speedy trial under criminal procedure law
Subjects
- criminal procedure
- writ petition
- delay in disposal
- speedy trial
- judicial magistrate
- high court direction
Judgment
DTG 16-Wp-3411-2026.doc
IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT BOMBAY
CRIMINAL APPELLATE JURISDICTION
WRIT PETITION NO. 3411 OF 2026
Pankaj Jaiprakash Goel & Anr. … Petitioners
V/s.
The State of Maharashtra & Ors. … Respondents
_______________________________________
Mr. Shashwat Nehete i/b Mr. Omkar Dhakal for Petitioners.
Mr. Ajay S. Patil, A.P.P. for Respondent-State.
_______________________________________
CORAM : A. S. GADKARI AND
KAMAL KHATA, JJ.
DATE : 16th September 2026
P.C. :
1) It is the grievance of the Petitioners that, Criminal Application
Nos. 1676 of 2024 and 1677 of 2024 filed by the Petitioners, though heard
eight months prior to this are not yet finally decided, inter alia no final Order
is passed on the said Applications by the 4 th Judicial Magistrate First Class,
Belapur, Navi Mumbai.
1.1) We therefore direct the learned 4th Judicial Magistrate First
Class, Belapur, Navi Mumbai, seized of Criminal Application Nos. 1676 of
2024 and 1677 of 2024 filed by the Petitioners, to decide and dispose it off
within a period of four weeks from the date of uploading of the present
Order on the official website of the High Court of Bombay.
1/2
DTG 16-Wp-3411-2026.doc
2) Learned Advocate for the Petitioners is directed to produce copy
of this Order before the learned Magistrate after it is uploaded on the official
website of this Court.
3) Petition is disposed off in the aforesaid terms.
( KAMAL KHATA, J. ) ( A.S. GADKARI, J. )
Digitally signed
by
DNYANESHWAR
DNYANESHWAR TULSHIRAM
TULSHIRAM GHUMNAR
GHUMNAR
Date:
2026.09.22
10:50:29 +0530
2/2
Checking your session…
Lawyer court records for this case
Associated through the court’s case reference.