Karnataka High Court Directs Trial Judges to Enforce Section 294(3) CrPC to Reduce CBI Case Delays

The High Court of Karnataka has directed all trial judges presiding over Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) cases across the state to strictly enforce Section 294(3) of the Code of Criminal Procedure (CrPC), corresponding to Section 330(3) of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS), to curb inordinate trial delays. The order was passed by Justice V. Srishananda while hearing a criminal petition seeking the quashing of a charge sheet due to prolonged proceedings. The High Court noted that CBI cases often involve voluminous documentation, leading to long trial delays as prosecutors examine scores of witnesses to prove routine or undisputed records. Justice Srishananda observed that trial courts rarely utilize Section 294(3), which allows undisputed prosecution documents to be formally marked with the consent of the defense right at the commencement of trial. By enforcing this procedural mandate, trial courts can substantially reduce the number of witnesses required to testify, thereby expediting trial schedules and safeguarding the fundamental right to a speedy trial. The High Court instructed trial judges to undertake this exercise at the very beginning of pending trials, providing structured timelines for concluding old cases to ensure efficiency and judicial accountability in public interest litigation.