ORDER 1. The instant special leave petitions have been preferred by the petitioner-prosecutrix against the common impugned order dated 13.09.2017 passed by the High Court of Punjab and Haryana, allowing the applications of the respondents-accused for suspension of their sentences during the pendency of their respective appeals filed against the trial court's judgment dated 24.05.2017 on conviction and judgment dated 26.05.2017 on sentencing. 2. All the respondents-accused except accused no.3 - Vikas Garg, were not granted bail during the trial. However, Accused no.3 - Vikas Garg, was granted bail on 03.12.2016 i.e. midway in the trial. Also, there is no complaint regarding his conduct while he was on bail. 3. The other two respondents-accused viz., Hardik and Karan, were not granted bail during the trial, but during the pendency of their appeals, the High Court allowed their applications for suspension of sentences vide the impugned order, and directed them to be released from custody. 4. Each of the respondents-accused as well as the prosecutrix were the students of O.P. Jindal University, Sonipat, Haryana, where the incidents for which they were convicted and sentenced are said to have occurred. 5. By order dated 06.11.2017, while issuing notice to the respondents, this Court stayed the aforesaid impugned order passed by the High Court. Further, this Court vide order dated 11.01.2018, granted stay of arrest against respondent no.2 viz., Vikas Garg in SLP(Crl.) No.8695 of 2017 and also stayed the execution of non-bailable warrants issued by the learned District and Sessions Judge, Sonipat District Courts (Haryana), against respondent no.2 - Vikas Garg. 6. We have heard learned Senior Counsel appearing for both sides at some length and perused the record. 7. However, in the interests of justice, we do not propose to discuss the merits of the case and make any observations thereon since the appeals are pending before the High Court. Instead, we consider it appropriate to direct that the aforesaid interim orders dated 06.11.2017 and 11.01.2018 passed by this Court, shall remain in force pending decisions of the appeals by the High Court. 8. We order accordingly. 9. We further request the High Court to dispose of the pending appeals filed by the respondents-accused, on their own merits without being influenced by any observations of any court and as early as possible preferably not later than five months from the date the parties appear before it. 10. 8. We order accordingly. 9. We further request the High Court to dispose of the pending appeals filed by the respondents-accused, on their own merits without being influenced by any observations of any court and as early as possible preferably not later than five months from the date the parties appear before it. 10. The parties are directed to appear before the High Court on 06.03.2018. 11. Hence, the special leave petitions are disposed of in the above terms. 12. As a sequel to the above, pending interlocutory applications, if any, stand disposed of.