Prakashan vs State Of Kerala

The Supreme Court quashed the proceedings against the appellant under Clauses 3 and 4 of the Lubricating Oils and Greases (Processing, Supply and Distribution Regulation) Order, 1987, read with Sections 3 and 7 of the Essential Commodities Act, due to an excessive delay of 21 years from the registration of the case to the receipt of the analysis report. The Court held that such delay constitutes an abuse of the process of the court and is against the interests of justice. Consequently, the appeal was allowed, and the proceedings were quashed.