HC orders pre-trial conference in criminal cases

The High Court has directed the criminal courts to hold ‘pre-trial conference’ while conducting day-to-day trial as per Section 309 of the Criminal Procedure Code, 1973.

Justice A V Chandrashekhara, while hearing a criminal appeal (No. 2191/2006), found that there was a delay of nearly 3 years and 3 months in conducting trial after charges were framed. Having noticed the inordinate delay in conducting trial, the court  felt that some effective guidelines should issued to all criminal courts in the state in the matter of holding trial on a day-to-day basis in order to achieve the object of speedy justice.

“This court feels that a pre-trial conference will have to be held consisting of presiding officer, public prosecutors, accused, advocate for the accused, and the concerned responsible police officer like inspector or sub-inspector of the concerned police station,” the court said.

The public prosecutor should come with a list of prosecution witnesses he wishes to examine and the approximate time for examining them with particular reference to the dates. The courts must ensure that the witnesses intended to be examined by the prosecutor would be available on the specified dates they are expected to appear, the court said.