The Supreme Court of India, in a significant move to enhance the efficiency of the judicial system, has issued a directive to all High Courts, emphasizing the need for the expeditious disposal of bail applications. This directive, led by Justices Bela Trivedi and Satish Chandra Sharma, aims to address the concerning delays in judicial processes, as notably evidenced in a recent case handled by the Patna High Court.
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The directive was influenced by an alarming delay in the Patna High Court, where a judgment on an anticipatory bail application, reserved on April 7, 2022, was only pronounced almost a year later, on April 4, 2023. This incident led the Supreme Court to request a report from the Registrar General of the Patna High Court, expressing surprise at the extended duration for which the judgment was reserved.
The Supreme Court, in its observations, highlighted the critical nature of bail applications and the unacceptable delays in their disposal.
“Though, we are very much alive about the magnitude of the bail applications being filed and heard by the Courts at all levels, we cannot be oblivious to the delay which takes place in the disposal of the Bail applications. This Court, time and again, has expressed great concern about the delay taking place in the disposal of the bail applications and has issued guidelines from time to time,”
the Court noted.
Referencing its judgment in Anil Rai Vs. State of Bihar, the Supreme Court reiterated the guidelines it had set for the timely delivery of judgments. These guidelines include a mandatory note of the dates of reserving and pronouncing judgments, a monthly review of cases where judgments are reserved but not pronounced, and provisions allowing parties to seek expedited judgments in cases of prolonged delays.
Additionally, in the case of Satendra Kumar Antil Vs. Central Bureau of Investigation and Anr., the Court had stipulated that bail applications should be disposed of within two weeks, except under special circumstances.
Despite these established guidelines, the Supreme Court expressed its concern over the recurring delays in bail hearings and decisions. To combat this, the Court has encouraged High Courts to develop their mechanisms to ensure the timely disposal of cases reserved for judgments and orders.
This directive from the Supreme Court is a clear indication of its commitment to ensuring justice is delivered in a timely manner. It underscores the urgency of addressing systemic issues that lead to judicial delays. The case, RAJANTI DEVI @ RAJANTI KUMARI VERSUS THE UNION OF INDIA, is a testament to the challenges within the judicial process and the need for immediate and effective reforms.
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