In a significant development, the Supreme Court has called upon all High Courts to submit detailed reports regarding the dates when judgments are pronounced and uploaded. This order is a continuation of a previous directive aimed at ensuring greater transparency and accountability in the judicial process.
A bench of Justices Surya Kant and N. Kotiswar Singh instructed the Registrar Generals of all High Courts to submit a comprehensive report detailing the dates of judgment pronouncement and the dates when these judgments are made available online. This move aims to streamline the judicial process and ensure timely access to judgments for the public and legal professionals alike.
Earlier, the Supreme Court had directed High Courts to provide information on cases where judgments were still pending, even though they had been reserved on or before January 31, 2025. The current order expands on this directive, calling for reports that include both the pronouncement dates and the uploading dates of judgments.
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In this context, the counsel for a petitioner informed the Court about a case in the Allahabad High Court, where a judgment had been reserved in July 2024. The case involved a challenge to an order passed in October 2023, and the petitioner argued that despite a long delay, the judgment had yet to be pronounced. The counsel expressed frustration, stating that they had been left in a state of uncertainty.
Justice Surya Kant observed that a similar report had already been requested from the High Courts in a different matter and questioned the necessity for the petitioner to file a separate petition. However, the counsel clarified that this petition was filed before the other directive had been passed.
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In response to this, the bench of Justices Kant and Singh decided to combine the present case with the earlier matter and requested further information on the pronouncement and uploading of judgments. The Court also asked the concerned judge of the Allahabad High Court to look into the matter and take necessary remedial steps to address the delay.
"The Registrar Generals of all High Courts are directed to submit a further report giving full description of the dates of pronouncement of judgments and the dates when such judgments are uploaded," said the bench of Justices Surya Kant and N. Kotiswar Singh.
Case Title: M/S MARION BIOTECH PVT LTD Versus HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT ALLAHABAD, W.P.(C) No. 490/2025
