The Supreme Court issued directions for speedy disposal of pending bail applications nationwide, stressing protection of undertrial prisoners’ rights and personal liberty. A Bench led by Chief Justice Surya Kant urged High Courts and investigating agencies to coordinate and avoid unnecessary delays.
The Supreme Court expressed strong displeasure over the prolonged pendency of bail and anticipatory bail applications in several High Courts, calling it a serious threat to personal liberty. The Court warned that it may issue mandatory guidelines if High Court Chief Justices fail to ensure timely hearings in bail matters.
The Supreme Court has raised serious concern over the rising backlog of gangster and terror-linked cases in Delhi, urging urgent reforms and special courts for speedy trials. The Bench stressed that trials must finish within six months and said “the question of granting bail” should not arise if proceedings move on time.
The Bombay High Court emphasized that bail should be the norm in criminal cases, asserting that keeping individuals in jail without a trial constitutes pre-trial punishment. The court highlighted the urgent issue of overcrowded jails and underlined the essential principle that a person is innocent until proven guilty.
NEW DELHI: Today,(28th Jan): The Union government has decided not to act on the Supreme Court’s suggestion to create a separate law on bail. The government believes that the recent changes in criminal laws, especially the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS), 2023, which came into effect in July 2024, already address the concerns about pre-trial detention and related issues.
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.