Judge kk Ramakrishnan order The District Judiciary, the Prosecution and the Police or the concerned authorities and the members of the Bar appearing in the matters can all bring to the notice of this Court any suitable case which will be listed with the same nomenclature as before the trial Court and will be dealt with appropriately. 18.08.2025

BEFORE THE MADURAI BENCH OF MADRAS HIGH COURT DATED: 18.08.2025
CORAM:
THE HONOURABLE MR. JUSTICE K.K.RAMAKRISHNAN
W.P.Crl.(MD).No.1014 of 2025
Suo Motu … Petitioner
Vs
1. The State of Tamil Nadu,
Rep. by the Secretary to the Government, Home (Courts-IV) Department, Fort St.George, Chennai-600 009.
2. The Secretary to the Government,
Law Department, Government of Tamil Nadu, Chennai-600 009.
3. The Director of Prosecution, No.5, Kamaraj Salai, Triplicane, Chennai – 600 005.
4. The Director General of Police, No.1, Kamarajar Salai, Mylapore, Chennai-600 004.
5. Union of India,
Rep. by the Secretary to the Government,
Home Department, Puducherry – 605 001.
6. The Secretary,
Law Department, Puducherry – 605 001.
7. The Director of Prosecution,
No.5, Kamarajar Salai,
Tamil Nadu Slum Clearance Board Campus, Puducherry-600 005.
8. The Director General of Police,
2, Dumar Street, White Town,
Puducherry – 605 001. … Respondents
For Petitioner : Suo Motu
For Respondents : Mr.S.Ravi
Additional Public Prosecutor
ORDER
The suomotu W.P.Crl.No.1014 of 2025 has been ordered to be registered and placed before this Bench by the Honourable Chief Justice on the note that was made by this Court pursuant to the constitution of the dedicated bench and the entire note that was made in Roc.No.148/2025/Crl.
Side is extracted hereunder for ready reference:
1. It is brought to the notice of this Court that this bench is, inter alia constituted as a Dedicated Bench for implementing the Pilot Project to identify and dispose of Criminal Cases involving offences punishable with imprisonment of up to 3 years, pending at the trial, appeal, or revision stage for more than 3 years in the State of Tamil Nadu. This initiative is in accordance with the guidance of the Hon’ble Committee of the Supreme Court of India to suggest measures for reducing the backlog of criminal cases at all levels.
2. During further interaction, it was guided that this can be extended to offences like Section 506(ii) of the IPC and others, which may carry a punishment of more than 3 years but overall will be suitable for approach to be adopted in the project and align with the procedures that the Dedicated Bench may adopt for the swift disposal of cases.
3. Apart from the cases pending with the
Principal Bench of the Madras High Court, the Dedicated Bench must consider passing appropriate orders for cases pending at the trial, appeal, or revision stages before the District Courts throughout the jurisdiction of the Principal Bench. This must be done through the exercise of powers under Article 226 of the Constitution of India and Section 528 of B.N.S.S, 2023/Section 482 of Cr.P.C., with the aim to:
(a) Identify compoundable cases and attempt to resolve them through direct negotiations and
Alternative Dispute Resolution methods;
(b) In non-compoundable cases, identify suitable cases and consider the possibility of compromise and settlement between parties, as per the dictum in Gian Singh Vs. State of Punjab and Anr. [(2012) 10 SCC 303] and related judgments, encouraging parties to come forward and passing orders accordingly;
(c) Address the withdrawal of prosecution of suitable cases by the government, deemed appropriate;
(d) Exercise the power to quash cases on the grounds of delay, where circumstances permit, to safeguard the right to a speedy trial guaranteed under Article 21 of the Constitution of India; and
(e) Issue directions related to cases from private complaints, such as those under the Negotiable Instruments Act, 1881, pending in the subordinate judiciary. Use strategies like compounding, ADR methods such as Mediation, and special approaches for batch/bulk cases, etc., filed by institutions/commercial organisations;
(f) Issue general directions for the use of ADR methods, such as Mediation, regarding matters that are also pending with the Principal Bench.
4. The goal is to identify categories and recommend or apply appropriate solutions and pass orders to reduce the clogs in the wheel of the administration of criminal justice, ensuring proper case flow and availability of quality time for the trial of appropriate cases.
5. Since continuing directions or orders need to be issued within the scope of the Pilot Project as per the guidance of the Hon’ble Committee of the Hon’ble Supreme Court of India, as suggested by the
Committee itself, it is just and necessary to initiate a Suo-motu Writ Petition (Crl.) with the following cause title and parties. Further, any additional parties can be impleaded at a later stage.”
2. In this regard, already a meeting has been held with the District Judiciary and a module has been created for transmission of the relevant cases to the file of this Court to deal with the same through the aforementioned methods and any other suitable manner so as to reduce the pendency of these cases and to make available the time of the criminal justice system to the deserving cases which have to be tried expeditiously.
3. Mr.S.Ravi, the learned Additional Public Prosecutor takes notice for the respondents.
4. It is open for the learned Public Prosecutors to route the files which they deem fit to be disposed of by this dedicated bench by bringing them to the notice of the concerned Court or to the notice of this Court also directly. The concerned heads of the Police Department are requested to issue directions to every Station House Officer to run through the list of cases within their jurisdiction and identify the suitable matters and take up the issue with the respective Deputy Director of Prosecution / Assistant Public
Prosecutors or through the Public Prosecutor appearing before this Court.

5. The appointment of a nodal officer for this purpose can also be considered by the respective Director General of Police. The respective Superintendent of Police / Commissioner of Police shall also oversee and ensure that information is furnished to this Court quickly. It is made clear that the dedicated bench has to act swiftly and therefore the information shall be furnished at once in one or two working days. This suo motu W.P.Crl. No. 1014 of 2025 shall be listed every day. Suitable cases may be brought to this
Court even from tomorrow (i.e.19.08.2025)
6. It is made clear that the parties shall appear before this Court directly or by video conference through the concerned Police Station. Additionally, this Court will hold the sittings through the video conferencing facility of Courts below. Flexible methods can be adopted for different kinds of cases.
7. Call this matter on 19.08.2025 as the first case at 10:30 AM.
8. The Registry shall also carry the following note in the first list:
“This dedicated bench is for implementing the pilot project to identify and dispose of criminal cases involving offences punishable with imprisonment up to 3 years pending at trial, appeal or revision stage for more than 3 years in the State of Tamil Nadu with reference to the Districts coming under the Principal Bench. The cases will be disposed of by considering fit cases for releasing the accused under the provisions of the Probation of Offenders Act, by compounding cases and attempting to resolve through alternative dispute resolution methods, in case of suitable non-compoundable cases as per the dictum of the Honourable Supreme Court of India in Gian Singh Vs. State of Punjab and another (2012 10 SCC 303) and related judgments in exercise of power under Section 482 of Cr.P.C. and Section 528 of B.N.S.S., by directing / accepting requests of withdrawal of prosecution of suitable cases by the Government, by exercising the power to quash on the grounds of delay where circumstances permit and by plea bargaining etc.”
9. The District Judiciary, the Prosecution and the Police or the concerned authorities and the members of the Bar appearing in the matters can all bring to the notice of this Court any suitable case which will be listed with the same nomenclature as before the trial Court and will be dealt with appropriately.
18.08.2025
sbn
To
1. The Secretary to the Government,
Home (Courts-IV) Department, Fort St.George, Chennai-600 009.
2. The Secretary to the Government,
Law Department, Government of Tamil Nadu, Chennai-600 009.
3. The Director of Prosecution, No.5, Kamaraj Salai, Triplicane, Chennai – 600 005.
4. The Director General of Police, No.1, Kamarajar Salai, Mylapore, Chennai-600 004.
5. The Secretary to the Government, Home Department, Puducherry – 605 001.
6. The Secretary,
Law Department, Puducherry – 605 001.
7. The Director of Prosecution,
No.5, Kamarajar Salai,
Tamil Nadu Slum Clearance Board Campus, Puducherry-600 005.
8. The Director General of Police, 2, Dumar Street, White Town, Puducherry – 605 001.
9. The Public Prosecutor
Madurai Bench of Madras High Court, Madurai.
10. The Public Prosecutor, Puducherry. 
K.K.RAMAKRISHNAN, J.
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W.P.Crl.(MD).No.1014 of 2025
18.08.2025