A suo motu transfer case under the High Court's dedicated bench pilot project for cases pending over three years. The accused pleaded guilty to robbing Rs.180 at knife point under Section 387 IPC. The court convicted him, sentenced him to imprisonment already undergone, and imposed a fine with default sentence.
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Suo Motu TR.(MD).No.5066 of 2025
BEFORE THE MADURAI BENCH OF MADRAS HIGH COURT
DATE : 28.10.2025
CORAM
THE HONOURABLE MR.JUSTICE K.K.RAMAKRISHNAN
Suo Motu TR.(MD).No.5066 of 2025
(C.C.No.1181 of 2022 on the file of the Judicial Magistrate Court, Thirumangalam Taluk, Madurai)
The Sub Inspector of Police, Perunkudi Police Station, Madurai. Crime No.4 of 2021
... Petitioner
Vs.
Alagar
... Respondent
Upon perusing the documents and case records of the above
C.C.No.1181 of 2022 transmitted to this Court and hearing the arguments
of Mr.S.Ravi, learned Additional Public Prosecutor on behalf of the State
and hearing the concerned probation officer this Court passes the
following
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Prelude :
ORDER
Suo Motu TR.(MD).No.5066 of 2025
“ 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 and also offences like Section 506(ii) of IPC and others, which may carry a punishment of more than 3 years in the state of Tamil Nadu with reference to the 14 Districts coming under the Madurai Bench of Madras High Court”.
file of the Judicial Magistrate Court, Thirumangalam Taluk, Madurai as Suo motu Special Tr.Case.(MD) No.5066 of 2025 in Suo Motu W.P. (Crl.).(MD).No.1014 of 2025, upon proper scrutinity and suitability as a fit case warranting the exercise of power under Article 226 of Constitution of India to pass suitable order in the said C.C., pending more than three years without any precedent value in this pilot project.
3. Brief facts of the prosecution case in C.C.No.1181 of 2022 :
On 03.01.2020, at about 09.00 p.m, the accused is said to have
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Suo Motu TR.(MD).No.5066 of 2025
waylaid the complainant and robbed a sum of Rs.180/- from the shirt
pocket of the complainant at knife point. Therefore, a case was registered in Crime No.4 of 2021 for the offences punishable under Section 387 of IPC, and upon completion of investigation, final report filed and the same was taken on file in C.C.No.1181 of 2022 and the same was pending without trial for more than three years .
4. Discussion:
4.1 Today, the learned Principal District Judge has appeared through
video conference. The accused and the police official were present before the learned Principal District Court. The accused has filed an admission petition and pleaded guilty and seeks leniency in imposing punishment.
4.2. This Court explains the contents of the accusation to the accused, and the accused admits the contents of the admission petition and pleads guilty. Thus, this court satisfies the admission petition filed without any coercion or threat.
4.3.In view of the above admission and pleading of guilty of the accused, and considering the material allegation made in the final report did not relate to the economic and heinous offence and his conduct is good and the charged offence is punishable with imprisonment of either 3/7
Suo Motu TR.(MD).No.5066 of 2025
description for a term which may extend to three years, or with fine,
or with both and the case is pending for more than three years without trial and the same impinge the fair and speedy trial as envisaged under Article 21 of the Constitution of India, this Court is inclined to admit the petition and convict the accused for the offence under Section 387 of IPC,
and sentenced to the imprisonment which the accused had already undergone. There is no bar to initiate the confiscation proceedings under the relevant statues by following the procedure stated in the relevant Act.
5. Discussion on the question of sentence :-
The accused is aged about 29 years and he is in custody for a
period of 4 days and he has not involved in further offence and considering the mitigating circumstances, and following the law laid down by the Hon'ble Supreme Court in the case of Sunita Devi Vs. State of Bihar and another reported in 2014 SCC Online SC 984, 2025 INSC 1014 (K.Ponnammal Vs. State) and also taken into account that the accused also regularly appearing before the Court and also on the reiterated the principle of the Hon'ble Supreme Court in the cases of M.W.Mohiuddin V. State of Maharashtra reported in (1995) 3 SCC 567 and B.G.Goswarmi V. Delhi Administration reported in (1974) 3 SCC 85
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Suo Motu TR.(MD).No.5066 of 2025
that delay itself amounts to punishment, which must weigh in sentencing
and disposal, this court is inclined to impose fine of Rs.2,500/- (Rupees
Two Thousand and Five Hundred Only) with default sentence of two months simple imprisonment.
6.Accordingly, this Suo Motu Special Tr.(MD). case stands closed on the following terms:
6.1. The accused is convicted for the offence under Section 387 of
IPC, in C.C.No.1181 of 2022 on the file of the Judicial Magistrate Court, Thirumangalam Taluk, Madurai .
6.2. The accused is directed to pay a fine of Rs.2,500/- (Rupees Two
Thousand and Five Hundred Only) before the Judicial Magistrate Court, Thirumangalam Taluk, Madurai, and in default, he is directed to
undergo two months simple imprisonment.
28.10.2025
dss
Note to the Trial Court : This order is digitally signed and communicated electronically alone. The Trial Court shall take note of the order and accordingly classify the case pending before them as allowed / dismissed /
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Suo Motu TR.(MD).No.5066 of 2025
disposed of, etc, and while doing so, consider any applications such as disposal of properties, etc., and pass appropriate orders, as may be necessary. Further, the Court below is directed to dispatch the copy of this order to all concerned.
K.K.RAMAKRISHNAN,J.
dss
Order made in SUO MOTU Tr.(MD).No.5066 of 2025
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Suo Motu TR.(MD).No.5066 of 2025
28.10.2025
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1 issue framed by the court
Whether a pending three-year-old robbery trial under Section 387 IPC could be expedited and disposed of on the accused's plea of guilty under the High Court's dedicated bench pilot project.
Colour shows how this judgement treated each authority
Sunita Devi Vs. State of Bihar and anotherRelied on¶5
2014 SCC Online SC 984 · Who else cites this
K.Ponnammal Vs. StateRelied on¶5
2025 INSC 1014 · Who else cites this
M.W.Mohiuddin V. State of MaharashtraRelied on¶5
(1995) 3 SCC 567 · Who else cites this
B.G.Goswarmi V. Delhi AdministrationRelied on¶5
(1974) 3 SCC 85 · Who else cites this
3 provisions across 2 enactments
The Sub Inspector of Police, Perunkudi Police Station, Madurai
Alagar
K.K.Ramakrishnan
As recorded by the court registry
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