Gujarat High Court Criminal Manual (subordinate court practice), 1977
The object of proceedings under Chapter VIII of the Criminal Procedure Code, 1973, is to prevent, a crime or the breach of the peace. Delay may defeat the very object of these proceedings and therefore proceedings under that Chapter should be disposed of with the utmost expedition and the least possible harassment and trouble to the parties. It should be the endeavour of Magistrates to dispose of such proceedings within a period not exceeding two months. In no case it should exceed period of six months. If under unusual circumstances it exceeds the period of six months and if the accused is not in detention then the Magistrate should record reasons in writing if he is of the opinion that it should not stand terminated under section 116 (6) of the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973. The special reasons for that should be written before the expiry of the period of six months.