12-Year Delay in Summons: Madras HC Decries ‘Failure of Procedural Safeguards’ by Police and Judiciary, Refuses to Quash Case

The Madurai Bench of the Madras High Court, while refusing to quash a 12-year-old criminal proceeding, has strongly censured both the State Police and the subordinate judiciary for a “12-year stagnation” caused by the repeated failure to serve summons on the accused.

In a petition (Crl.OP(MD)No.13075 of 2025) heard by Justice B. Pugalendhi , the Court highlighted systemic lapses that allowed a case filed in 2013 to see summons served only in 2025. While declining to quash the case, the Court directed the trial to be concluded within three months and mandated the strict implementation of the e-summon system.

Background of the Case

The petitioner, Mr. Ramasamy, a senior citizen, had approached the High Court seeking to quash the proceedings in CC.No.128 of 2013, pending before the Distr