The Supreme Court of India has issued a landmark judgment mandating that high courts across the country deliver bail rulings within 24 hours of hearing. The judgment, which aims to tackle judicial delays affecting personal liberty and speedy justice, introduces enforceable remedies for litigants, automated monitoring mechanisms, and reassignment of cases from judges who fail to pronounce judgments within stipulated timelines.
The court has directed high courts to display 'extra promptitude' in matters relating to regular bail, anticipatory bail, criminal appeals where the convict is in custody, and death reference cases. Orders granting bail, suspending sentence, or acquitting a convict in custody must be communicated to jail authorities and trial courts on the very date of pronouncement.
The judgment also introduces an elaborate accountability mechanism to monitor delayed judgments. Chief justices of high courts have been directed to ensure technological modifications in high court websites to generate automated emails containing details of all reserved judgments pending during a month.
Enforceable rights and remedies have been created for litigants affected by judicial delays. Parties may file an application before the high court seeking early pronouncement of judgment, and if judgment still remains pending after three-and-a-half months, they would be entitled to move the chief justice seeking withdrawal of the matter and reassignment to another bench for fresh hearing.
