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Nidhi Dua vs. State (NCT) of Delhi & Anr.

Writ Petition (Criminal) · 2026:DHC:7479Decided 1 Sept 2026New Delhi Bench
W.P.(CRL) 2518/2026CNR: DLHC010387222026
Justice Manoj Jain

Background

The petitioner, a complainant in a 2017 FIR, sought directions to the trial court to expedite the case, since cognizance had been taken in 2019 but charges had still not been framed. Her counsel attributed the delay to the Investigating Officer's lack of assistance to the trial court.

Decision Breakdown

The State's counsel assured the Court that the Investigating Officer, present that day, would appear and assist the trial court at the next hearing. The Court, without commenting on the merits of the underlying case, disposed of the petition with a request to the trial court to expedite the framing of charges, preferably within three months of taking up the matter, and directed the IO to appear as promised.

Lesson Learnt

Complainants facing unreasonable delay in criminal trials due to lax investigating officer cooperation can approach the High Court for a time-bound direction to the trial court, without needing to prove the merits of the case itself.

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