'Indiscriminate Adjournments Are Clogging Courts': Karnataka High Court Directs Conclusion Of 15-Year-Old Criminal Case

The Karnataka High Court on Monday (June 22) said that grant of indiscriminate adjournments without any rhyme or reason is the reason which is clogging the courts. [2026 LiveLaw (Kar) 211]

The court made the oral observation while directing the trial court to conclude the proceedings in a 15-year-old criminal case, after noting that the matter was adjourned by the concerned court on a plethora of occasions without any rhyme or reason. 

The petitioner had sought quashing of a 2011 FIR for offences under IPC Sections 406(Criminal Breach of Trust),420(Cheating),468(forgery),471(Using as genuine a forged document or electronic record) pending before the magistrate court in Bengaluru.

In the interim application, the petitioner had sought a direction to the trial court to complete the proceedings within 2 months, since the case is pending since the last 13 years.

Justice M Nagaprasanna noted that while the petitioner had sought quashing in the petition, however the petitioner had restricted his prayer to seeking a direction to the trial court to conclude the proceedings. 

"The crime is of the year 2011, CC is registered in 2013. 13 years have passed by and the concerned court has only adjourned the matter on plethora of occasions listed without any rhyme or reason. This is what is clogging the courts, on granting indiscriminate adjournments without any rhyme or reason. In the light of the proceedings being 15 years old today, I deem it appropriate to infuse finality into the proceedings. The direction to the concerned court to conclude the proceedings within 3 months, " the court in its order directed. 

The court disposed of the petition. 

Case title: K.G. RAJANNA v/s STATE OF KARNATAKA AND ANOTHER

CRL.P 6443/2026

Citation: 2026 LiveLaw (Kar) 211