Chief Justice of India Raises Concern Over Delayed High Court Judgments

Chief Justice of India (CJI) DY Chandrachud voiced apprehension regarding the practice of High Courts withholding judgments for unusually extended periods. During a hearing involving arbitration proceedings, a bench, including Justices JB Pardiwala and Manoj Misra, raised this concern.

The CJI remarked, "What is a matter of concern is judges reserving matters for over 10 months without judgment. I wrote to all the High Courts. After the letter, I see many judges just de-reserving matters and listing them as part-heard. Honestly, after that long, the oral arguments do not matter, and judges forget."

Acknowledging the issue's gravity, the bench directed the High Court in question to promptly resolve the pending matter. Expressing hope that this trend is not pervasive across other High Courts, the Supreme Court cautioned against prolonging the resolution of cases, which exacerbates litigants' plight, delays justice, and increases legal fees.

In a related context, the Supreme Court had recently criticized the Bombay High Court for undue delays in hearing bail matters, urging judges to expedite the disposal of such cases to prevent deprivation of personal liberty.

The apex court's intervention underscores the importance of timely justice delivery and the need for efficient case management practices within the judiciary. Such concerns highlight the ongoing efforts to streamline legal procedures and enhance access to justice for all citizens.