GUWAHATI: The Supreme Court, on Friday. May 29, issued binding directions to all High Courts across the country to curb delays in the pronouncement and uploading of judgments. Invoking powers under Article 142 of the Constitution, the apex court laid down strict timelines for reserved judgments, bail orders and release of undertrial prisoners.
A bench led by Chief Justice of India Surya Kant directed all High Courts to pronounce reserved judgments within three months from the date they are reserved. The Court observed that delayed judgments undermine public confidence in the justice delivery system and affect the rights of litigants awaiting relief.
The apex court also issued important directions regarding bail matters. It said bail orders should ideally be pronounced on the same day after hearing, and if orders are reserved, they must be delivered by the next day. The Court further directed that regular bail orders must be communicated immediately to trial courts and jail authorities so that undertrial prisoners granted bail can be released on the same day, subject to completion of formalities, or at the latest by the next day.
To improve transparency and accountability, the Supreme Court directed that the date on which a judgment is reserved must be reflected on the respective High Court websites. It also ordered that once a judgment is pronounced, the operative portion should be announced in open court and the full judgment uploaded online within 24 hours. In cases where detailed reasons are pending, they must be uploaded within seven days.
The Court further ruled that the date of pronouncement of the operative part of a judgment will be treated as the official date of pronouncement of the judgment itself. It also warned that prolonged non-compliance with the timelines could lead to cases being reassigned to another bench, while matters in which reasons are not uploaded within 30 days may also be withdrawn and placed before a fresh bench.
The ruling came during the hearing of a case concerning long delays in the pronouncement and uploading of judgments, particularly in the Jharkhand High Court. Registrar Generals of all High Courts have now been directed to place the new guidelines before their respective Chief Justices for implementation.
