Introduction
Although the right to prompt justice is a fundamental component of constitutional democracy, the public’s trust in the legal system is being eroded by the growing delay in the delivery of judgments by the court. The Supreme Court’s intervention addressing these increased delays in High Court judgment delivery represents a resolute step toward ensuring that justice is not only done but is seen to be done within reasonable timeframes. When the Courts put a hold on making decisions for long periods of time, they create a judicial vacuum that fosters uncertainty and weakens the rule of law.
Background
The challenge of delayed judgment delivery was present in the Indian judicial system for decades, with reserved judgments often remaining unpronounced for months or even years after the hearings. The practice of issuing the final decision without a reasoned judgment, which is not given for a considerable amount of time, has been adopted by some High Courts. This practice has now created a worrying sequence where litigants receive orders without reasoning, leaving them in a legal lacuna and making them unable to pursue appropriate remedies. A Bench of Justices Sanjay Karol and Prashant Kumar Mishra said that such a delay in delivering reserved judgments was “extremely shocking and surprising”, highlighting the intensity of the situation and the urgent need for systemic reform. The Supreme Court formulated comprehensive instructions for all High Courts as a result of the case that exposed this problem, which showed significant delays at the Allahabad High Court, where appeals had been pending without judgment.
Key Points
- The Three-Month Timeline: The Supreme Court gave a period of three months and said that, within this time, any reserved judgment should be delivered.
- Case Reassignment: The directive by the Supreme Court also gives the opportunity to the parties to make an application before the Chief Justice to withdraw the case and assign it to another bench for fresh arguments if the judgment is not delivered within six months. This provision ensures that the delays do not halt cases and provides the concerned parties with a proper remedy when faced with increased judicial delays.
- Constitutional Right to Timely Justice: The Supreme Court has held that resolving a dispute in a timely manner is not merely an administrative matter; it is a constitutional entitlement. The Court noted that any delays in the delivery of judgments weaken access to justice and violate this constitutional right.
Recent Developments
In the case of Ravindra Pratap Shahi v. State of U.P. & Ors., the Supreme Court took note of the increased and unreasonable delay and directed the High Court to decide the matters that came before it. The Supreme Court’s intervention is more than a case-specific remedy; it is a comprehensive framework addressing judicial delays across all High Courts, this directive acknowledges that while judges require an ample amount of time for deliberation and judgment preparation, unreasonable delays in the same violate the constitutional principles and weaken public confidence in the judicial system. This ruling also addresses the wider consequences of delayed justice delivery on the legal system’s credibility and effectiveness
Conclusion
The directive of the Supreme Court mandating a timeframe for High Courts to deliver judgments is a change in the judicial administration process that prioritises constitutional rights over administrative necessity. By setting out a proper accountability mechanism and empowering Chief Justices to intervene in cases of excessive delay, this directive has established a framework that balances judicial independence with the constitutional mandate of timely justice delivery. The three-month deadline, paired with case reassignment options, ensures that litigants have proper remedies to resort to when faced with judicial delays. This intervention strengthens the justice delivery system by making delay accountability transparent and actionable, ultimately serving the constitutional principle that justice delayed is justice denied.
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WRITTEN BY: YANA S JACOB
