The Supreme Court of India issued binding directions on Friday, ordering all high courts nationwide to resolve bail pleas within 24 hours and pronounce reserved judgments within a three-month deadline.
The bench, comprising Chief Justice Surya Kant and Justice Joymalya Bagchi, invoked special constitutional powers under Article 142 to enforce strict accountability and safeguard personal liberty.
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The intervention followed the top court's notice of multiple criminal appeals from Jharkhand involving life convicts whose judgments remained reserved for years, which subsequent data collection proved to be a countrywide issue.
Automatic Review and Case Reassignment
The directives establish an automatic review process where matters pending past the three-month mark must reach the respective high court chief justice within two weeks.
If unresolved after an additional fortnight, the case may be reassigned to another judge.
High courts must upload detailed orders on their websites within 24 hours of an open-court pronouncement.
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Automated monthly email notifications will track delayed cases among judges.
To assist litigants, the top court introduced enforceable remedies allowing affected parties to seek expedited pronouncements or case transfers when specified deadlines are breached by a sitting bench.
The apex court detailed specific timelines for judges regarding the pronouncement and processing of delayed judicial decisions.
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"The high courts shall pronounce the judgment within a maximum period of three months from the date of reserving," the court said.
