New Delhi, Aug 26 (UNI) The Supreme Court has expressed strong concern over the delays by High Courts in delivering judgments after hearings are concluded, terming it “extremely shocking and surprising.”
A bench of Justices Sanjay Karol and Prashant Kumar Mishra was hearing appeals filed by Ravindra Pratap Shahi challenging interim orders of the Allahabad High Court in a criminal case pending since 2008.
The appeal had been fully heard and reserved for orders on December 24, 2021, but no judgment was delivered, compelling the matter to be placed before another bench.
Despite repeated applications for early disposal, the High Court did not pass any verdict, the apex court recorded. “It is extremely shocking and surprising that the judgment was not delivered for almost a year from the date when the appeal was heard,” the bench observed yesterday.
The court noted that it has repeatedly faced similar situations where judgments are not pronounced for months, and in some cases even years, after hearings are concluded. Citing its earlier ruling in Anil Rai v. State of Bihar, the Court reiterated that timely pronouncement of judgments is an essential part of the justice delivery system.
Issuing fresh directions, the Supreme Court ordered that registrars of every high court must prepare a monthly report listing cases in which judgments have been reserved but not delivered. This report must be submitted to the Chief Justice of the respective high court.
If a judgment is not delivered within three months, the Registrar General must place the matter before the Chief Justice, who shall direct pronouncement within two weeks.
If a bench still does not deliver judgment, the matter must be reassigned to another bench.
“These directions are in addition to those already issued by this court,” the bench clarified, directing circulation of its order to all high courts for compliance.
Senior advocate S Nagamuthu, along with advocates Devesh Mohan, Kush Chaturvedi, Prerna Priyadarshini, Syed Faraz Alam, Atharva Gaur, Aayushman Aggarwal and Ayesha Choudhary, appeared for the appellant.
Advocate Preetika Dwivedi appeared on behalf of the respondents.
SC pulls up HCs for delay in pronouncing reserved judgments
