STATE OF MAHARASHTRA vs CHAMPALAL PUNJAJI SHAH

The Supreme Court addressed the implications of delayed trials under the Customs Act, specifically Section 135, and Article 21 of the Constitution. The Court held that while delays can be a tactic employed by the accused, they may also arise from prosecutorial inefficiencies, potentially infringing on the right to a speedy trial. The judgment emphasized that a delayed trial does not automatically equate to an unfair trial; however, if the accused can demonstrate prejudice in their defense due to the delay, the conviction may be quashed.