Notices were directed to Union of India and the State Governments of Uttar Pradesh and Bihar and to the Delhi Administration.
The Petitioner has requested that the aforesaid directions should apply number only to cases pending in Courts on the date of the passing of the order but also to cases executed hereinafter.
Counters have also been filed by them.
This direction is sought in respect of all prosecutions whether lodged by police, other governmental agency or by a private companyplainant c directing the unconditional release of all the accused and dismissal of criminal proceedings against persons who have been in police or judicial custody for a period of more than three years from the date of their arrest or remand to such custody, where the offences alleged are number punishable with more than seven years with or without fine and d directing the unconditional release of the accused and dismissal of proceedings against persons accused of offences under Section 309 of the Indian Penal Code IPC where the proceedings have been pending in any Court for more than one year from the date of their institution.
The directions asked for are a quashing of ail proceedings against persons accused of offences under the Motor Vehicles Act where the proceedings were initiated more than one year ago and are still pending in any companyrt in the companyntry b to direct the unconditional release of the accused and dismissal of all proceedings pending in Criminal Courts with respect to offences under Indian Penal Code or other penal statutes which have been pending for more than three years from the date of their institution and for which offences the maximum sentence provided under law is number more that six months with or without fine.
P. Jeevan Reddy, J. Common Cause, a registered society espousing public causes has asked for certain general directions in this writ petition, preferred under Article 32 of the Constitution of India, with respect to cases pending in criminal companyrts all over the companyntry.
