Gujarat High Court Criminal Manual (subordinate court practice), 1977
Though no hard and fast rule may be laid down regarding the precedence in hearing cases, it will be useful to bear the following principles in mind:— (i) Cases in which Juvenile Offenders are involved should normally be disposed of with the utmost expedition and as soon as possible after the offender is brought before the Magistrate. (ii) Custody cases should take precedence over non-custody cases. (iii) Cases in which Government servants and Panchayats servants are involved as accused should be disposed of as expeditiously as possible. (iv) Cases under the Indian Railways Act, and other petty non-cognizable cases, shall be disposed of as soon as possible after the accused is produced before the Court. (v) Part-heard cases and cases which are standing over from previous dates of hearing should take precedence over the cases to be heard for the first time. (vi) Cases in which parties and witnesses come from a distance should, as far as possible, be given due preference.