The Delhi High Court has sought an explanation from a Judicial Magistrate First Class (JMIC) for a delay of over six months in pronouncing an order on an application seeking vacation of stay in a case [Pradeep Bansal & Ors Vs State NCT of Delhi and Anr].
Justice Manmeet Pritam Singh Arora also sought an explanation from the Chief Judicial Magistrate and the District Judge, regarding the context in which the JMIC made the remark that “this Court is working with only one stenographer and has a pendency of more than 4,500 cases.”
The Court noted that similar remarks appeared in subsequent orders passed by the concerned judicial officer.
The Court passed the order in a petition filed by one Pradeep Bansal and others for expeditious disposal of their application for vacation of an interim stay order passed by the Judicial Magistrate First Class (Mahila Court) in December 2023.
The counsel representing the petitioners said the arguments on the application were heard on January 6 this year and that the matter has remained pending for the pronouncement of the order since April 22.
The Court said it was unable to discern any reason for the non-pronouncement of the order from the trial court's order sheets.
Therefore, the High Court directed the registry to seek a report from the trial court. The matter will be heard next on December 3.
Advocates Nitesh Mehra, Kunal Raj, Hitaakshi Mehra and Riya Jain appeared for the petitioners.
Standing counsel Rahul Tyagi and advocate Sangeet Sibou appeared for the State.
[Read Order]