The Supreme Court of India dismissed criminal appeals filed by Bal Kumar Patel, also known as Raj Kumar, refusing to quash ongoing proceedings. The Court stressed, ‘No Withdrawal of Cases Against Lawmakers Without High Court Leave,’ upholding the requirement.
The Supreme Court of India expressed concern over nearly 7 lakh pending criminal appeals across high courts, especially noting the severe under-staffing in the Allahabad High Court, which currently operates with only 79 of its sanctioned 160 judges. The court urged the central government to expedite judicial appointments for timely justice delivery.
NEW DELHI: The Supreme Court of India on Thursday (23rd Jan) expressed its dissatisfaction when a lawyer requested an adjournment in a criminal case. The Bench, comprising Justices PS Narasimha and Manoj Misra, highlighted the prolonged incarceration of the lawyer’s client, emphasizing the need for prompt justice.
The Supreme Court proposed appointing ad hoc judges under Article 224A to tackle the backlog of criminal appeals in high courts. Highlighting the severe delays, the court emphasized the need for these judges to work alongside permanent judges. The Chief Justice urged revising the 2021 guidelines to enable prompt appointments, ensuring efficient case resolution and addressing the plight of convicts.
NEW DELHI: The Supreme Court has scheduled a hearing for February 13 regarding the appeals filed by the Gujarat government and several convicts involved in the 2002 Godhra train burning case. The bench, consisting of Justices J.K. Maheshwari and Aravind Kumar, has made it clear that no adjournment will be allowed on the next hearing date.
The Supreme Court of India highlighted the need for active participation of courts in trials, especially when public prosecutors neglect their duties. The court stressed the importance of thorough cross-examinations by public prosecutors to uncover the truth. Emphasizing the duty of courts to ascertain truth, it criticized prosecutorial and judicial failures.