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SC observed that delays in delivering judgments often result in irreparable hardship to litigants (Img: Internet)
New Delhi: In a major step aimed at ensuring Timely Justice, the Supreme Court on Friday directed all High Courts across the country to pronounce Reserved Judgments within three months from the date orders are reserved.
The apex court observed that delays in High Court judgments often result in irreparable hardship to litigants, especially in cases linked to personal liberty.
A bench headed by Chief Justice of India Surya Kant and Justice Joymalya Baghchi issued a series Supreme Court Guidelines while hearing a matter concerning delays in pronouncement of judgments in the Jharkhand High Court.
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The bench emphasised that High Courts serve as the primary institutions where thousands of citizens seek justice, making Timely Justice essential for maintaining public confidence in the Indian Judiciary.
Invoking powers under Article 142 of the Constitution, the Supreme Court directed that all Reserved Judgments should be pronounced within a maximum period of three months.
The court underlined that matters concerning personal liberty require urgent attention and directed that bail applications should ideally be decided on the same day.
The bench stated that if an order in a bail matter is reserved, it must be pronounced and uploaded on the following day without delay. The Supreme Court On Delayed Judgments further directed that orders granting bail or suspending sentences should be communicated immediately to jail authorities to ensure the release process begins without unnecessary delay.
According to the directions, undertrial prisoners and convicts granted relief should preferably be released on the same day after completing required formalities, or at the latest by the following day.
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The Supreme Court also instructed that all judgments pronounced by High Courts must be uploaded to their official websites within 24 hours.
It clarified that the date on which the operative portion of a judgment is pronounced will be treated as the official date of the judgment. The court said such measures were necessary to strengthen transparency, efficiency and accountability within the Justice Delivery System.
While issuing the guidelines, the bench clarified that the Supreme Court Guidelines were not intended to cast aspersions on any judge or judicial institution.
The Supreme Court noted that the objective behind the directions was to improve the Justice Delivery System and ensure that litigants are not adversely affected by procedural delays.
