Supreme Court of India mandates timelines to address delays in judgment pronouncements by High Courts, ensuring adherence to Article 21 rights.
In a landmark ruling, the Supreme Court of India has issued comprehensive guidelines aimed at addressing the pervasive issue of delayed pronouncement of reserved judgments by High Courts across the nation. This decision comes in response to a series of writ petitions highlighting the detrimental impact of such delays on the administration of justice and the fundamental rights of litigants, particularly those affecting personal liberty.
The judgment, delivered by a bench comprising Chief Justice Surya Kant and Justice Joymalya Bagchi, emphasizes the constitutional obligation of timely justice delivery under Article 21, which guarantees the right to life and personal liberty. The Court acknowledged the dedication of High Court judges handling extensive caseloads but stressed the necessity of structured frameworks to facilitate timely justice.
The guidelines stipulate that judgments should be pronounced within three months of being reserved, with specific timelines for cases involving personal liberty, such as bail applications and criminal appeals. Bail applications should ideally be decided on the same or the next day, and judgments involving convicts in custody must be expedited.
Furthermore, the guidelines mandate that operative parts of judgments should be pronounced in open court and uploaded within 24 hours, with the reasoned judgments following within a maximum of 15 days. Automated email notifications will be sent to Chief Justices and concerned Benches for delayed judgments, enhancing transparency and accountability.
The Court has also empowered Chief Justices to monitor and reassign cases in the event of undue delays. Litigants are provided with remedies, allowing them to file applications for early pronouncement or reassignment of cases if judgments are not delivered within specified timeframes.
This decision marks a significant step towards ensuring the timely administration of justice and upholding the trust of citizens in the judiciary. The Supreme Court has expressed confidence that these guidelines will be implemented fully and faithfully by the High Courts.
Statutory provision(s): Article 21 of the Constitution of India, Code of Criminal Procedure 1973, Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023, Order XX Rule 1 of the Code of Civil Procedure 1908.
Pila Pahan @ Peela Pahan v. State of Jharkhand, (SC) : Law Finder Doc id # 2910087
