Chandigarh: The Punjab and Haryana High Court has pulled up the trial court for delays and leniency in a ₹58.68 lakh fraud case involving 76-year-old Colonel Sukhwinder Singh Dhillon, a retired Army officer. The Court has directed immediate steps to ensure speedy and humane trial proceedings for senior citizens.
Justice N.S. Shekhawat, on July 22, ordered the District and Sessions Judge of SAS Nagar to convene a meeting with all judicial officers in the district within a week. The purpose is to remind them against adopting a casual attitude in criminal trials, especially when senior citizens are involved.
HC Stresses Speedy and Humane Trials
The order came in the matter of Colonel Sukhwinder Singh Dhillon vs State of Punjab. The Court noted serious delays in the trial, stressing that such cases must be handled on priority and concluded within a fixed timeframe.
Quoting the order, Justice Shekhawat said:
“The exemption from personal appearance should be granted only when reasonable grounds exist. Cases of senior citizens should be decided on priority. Presiding Officers must adopt a humane and balanced approach when dealing with litigants.”
Colonel’s Complaint of Trial Delays
Colonel Dhillon, a resident of Amritsar, alleged that he had been cheated in a fake insurance policy scam, losing ₹58.68 lakh. He accused the trial court of excessive leniency, claiming the accused frequently skipped hearings and sought exemptions, which the court allowed, leading to repeated adjournments.
The High Court observed that the trial court was unreasonably soft towards both the accused and jail authorities. The Bench expressed shock that the jail authorities failed to produce the accused for 10 consecutive hearings, yet the court kept adjourning the case.
Strong Judicial Rebuke
Criticising the handling of the case, the Court noted:
“In nearly four years, only two witnesses have been recorded, despite the complainant travelling from Amritsar to Mohali at the age of 76. The Presiding Officers appeared unreasonably lenient and very kind to the accused.”
The Court referred to the Supreme Court’s judgment in Kartar Singh vs State of Punjab, reiterating that a speedy trial is essential not just for protecting the accused from prolonged detention but also for upholding public faith in justice.
Eight-Month Deadline for Trial Completion
The High Court directed the trial court to conclude proceedings and deliver judgment within eight months of receiving the order. It further ordered that a copy of the directive be sent to all judges who have handled the case since September 30, 2021, advising them to exercise greater caution in the future.
Advocate Neha Shukla represented Colonel Dhillon, while Deputy Advocate General M.S. Bajwa appeared for the Punjab government.
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