IN THE HIGH COURT OF HIMACHAL PRADESH, SHIMLA Cr.MPM No. 997 of 2026 Date of Decision: 18.6.2026 _____________________________________________________________________ Adarsh Rana ……...Petitioner Versus State of Himachal Pradesh …....Respondent Coram Hon’ble Mr. Justice Sandeep Sharma, Judge. Whether approved for reporting? For the Petitioner: Mr. Kiran Kumar, Legal Aid Counsel.. For the Respondent: Mr. Rajan Kahol & Mr. Vishal Panwar, Additional Advocates General and Mr. Ravi Chauhan, Deputy Advocate General. ___________________________________________________________________________ Sandeep Sharma, J. (Oral) Respondent-State has filed the status report and HC Jaivanti, PS Sadar, District Solan, Himachal Pradesh, has come present with record. Record perused and returned. 2. Close scrutiny of record reveals that petitioner is a habitual offender and in past, six cases under the NDPS Act, five cases under Section 378 of IPC and one case under Section 341 of IPC, stand registered against him. Though petitioner was earlier enlarged on bail, but on account of his having jumped the bail conditions, he was taken into custody. 3. It also emerges from the status report that eight prosecution witnesses out of total fifteen witnesses stand examined and three witnesses 2 have been given up, meaning thereby, only four PWs remain to be examined and for that, learned court below has fixed the matter on 9.7.2026. 4. Since petitioner is accused of heinous crime and he is a habitual offender coupled with the fact that trial is nearing completion, this court is not persuaded to consider the prayer made by the petitioner for grant of bail and accordingly, present petition is dismissed. However having taken note of the fact that bail petitioner is behind the bars since 5.12.2025 coupled with the fact that only four PWs remain to be examined, this Court hopes and trusts that the court below would make all out efforts to conclude the proceedings expeditiously, preferably before 15.8.2026. Learned Additional Advocate General undertakes to render proper assistance on behalf of the prosecution, enabling the court below to conclude the trial in terms of instant order passed by this Court. Application, if any, for extension of time by the court concerned shall also not be appreciated. Needless to say, this Court on judicial as well as administrative sides, has been repeatedly advising the courts below to conclude the trial of under trials on top most priority so that their freedom is not curtailed for an indefinite period. Registry is directed to apprise the court below with regard to passing of the instant order. June 18, 2026 (Sandeep Sharma), (manjit) Judge