In Re: Abdul Rahiman

criminal procedure code (act v of 1898), section 344-adjournment, grant of- december costs, order of.;a magistrate, in granting adjournment of a case, can, under section 344 of the criminal procedure code, 1898, order the costs of the day to be paid by the party applying for the adjournment in those cases only where the circumstances are exceptional and where for some reason or another the ordinary every-day method of conducting criminal cases must be departed from. - - but the criminal procedure code does not make special provision for costs in the course of a criminal trial, and one thing seems to me to be perfectly clear, and it is this: that if section 344 is to be regarded as justifying an order as to costs, it can only be where the circumstances are exceptional and where for some reason or another the ordinary every-day method of conducting criminal cases must be departed from. i say this because i feel sure that if our criminal law intended orders as to costs to be a normal part of our criminal proceedings, it would be clearly provided for. we should not be compelled to seek for authority for making such an order in a section like 344 and in such words as those in which that section is framed......trial, and one thing seems to me to be perfectly clear, and it is this: that if section 344 is to be regarded as justifying an order as to costs, it can only be where the circumstances are exceptional and where for some reason or another the ordinary every-day method of conducting criminal cases must be departed from. i say this because i feel sure that if our criminal law intended orders as to costs to be a normal part of our criminal proceedings, it would be clearly provided for. we should not be compelled to seek for authority for making such an order in a section like 344 and in such words as those in which that section is framed. taking it, therefore, as i do take it, that our common every-day practice, which is in accordance with the intentions of the code, does not contemplate an order as to costs ; then one has to see, whether, when an order as to costs has been made, the circumstances are so peculiar as to justify the order. in this case they do not seem to me to be in any way peculiar. it is an ordinary case, one with which we are very familiar. a party applies for a transfer and then applies for an adjournment of the case. such an adjournment is commonly granted, and in certain cases, as the law provides, must be granted.2. i think, therefore, that the order as to costs in this case should be set aside. the amount, if paid, should be refunded.3. i quite realize the inconvenience that arises when one party makes an application for a transfer or for an adjournment without giving previous notice to the other side. personally i should be very pleased to see that the legal profession recognized the desirability of always giving such notice.shah j.4. i agree.