The Supreme Court of India has expressed serious concerns over the prolonged delay in delivering judgments by High Courts, particularly those where verdicts were reserved before January 31, 2025, and remain pending. This issue has been highlighted as a violation of the right to speedy justice, as per Article 21 of the Constitution.

In response, the Supreme Court has directed the Registrar Generals of all 25 High Courts to submit detailed reports on such cases. The reports should include the number of cases where judgments were reserved but not pronounced, along with the reasons for the delay.

The Court has also indicated its intention to establish mandatory guidelines to ensure timely pronouncement of judgments, aiming to address the issue of delayed verdicts across the judiciary.

This development underscores the Supreme Court’s commitment to enhancing judicial accountability and ensuring the timely delivery of justice in India.

Sources