2009 INSC 1690
                                    SUPREME COURT OF INDIA

                                                   Arulmani

                                                      Vs.

                                           State Tr.Insp.of Police

                                          Crl.A.No.1957 of 2009

                                 (Dalveer Bhandari and H.L. Dattu JJ.)

                                                  27.10.2009

                                                   ORDER

Leave granted.

1. These cases were transferred from the High Court of Madras to the Madurai Bench of the
Madras High Court.

2. Learned senior counsel appearing on behalf of Appellants has drawn our attention to
Annexure P-3 at Page 130 of the SLP Paper Book in which it is mentioned that at the request
of the parties, the matter was adjourned to 26.3.2008. It is submitted by the learned counsel
for the appellant that though the hearing of the case was adjourned to 26.3.2008, but the
matter was somehow finally heard on 17.3.2008 and the Madurai Bench of the Madras High
Court passed the impugned order on 18.3.2008.

3. Learned counsel for the appellant submits that the hearing of the case was preponed
without notice to the appellant or his counsel. There is no satisfactory reply to this frontal
allegation by the respondent(s).

4. In this view of the matter, in consonance with the principles of natural justice, we are
constrained to set aside the order dated 18.3.2008 passed by the Madurai Bench of the
Madras High Court, remit the matters to the Madurai Bench of the High Court and direct that
the criminal appeals be listed for hearing after giving notice to the parties.

5. It is stated that the appellants are in jail for a long period. In this view of the matter, we
request the Madurai Bench of the Madras High Court to dispose of the criminal appeals as
expeditiously as possible.

6. These appeals are accordingly disposed of.

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