The Supreme Court of India recently dealt with the issue of long delays in pronouncing judgments after hearings are completed. The case arose from criminal appeals filed by Ravindra Pratap Shahi against interim orders of the Allahabad High Court.
The Court highlighted that despite hearings concluding as early as December 2021, no final judgment was delivered by the High Court for years. This delay forced the complainant to approach the Supreme Court for directions.
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Case Background
- The criminal appeal filed by respondent no.2 has been pending since 2008 in the Allahabad High Court.
- Hearings were completed and the case was reserved for judgment on 24 December 2021, but no verdict was delivered.
- The appellant approached the court multiple times seeking an early decision, but the matter kept getting adjourned.
- The Supreme Court earlier directed the High Court to dispose of the matter within three months but delays continued.
Justice Prashant Kumar Mishra, delivering the judgment, expressed strong concern over the prolonged delay. The Court said:
“It is extremely shocking and surprising that the judgment was not delivered for almost a year after the appeal was heard. Such delay shakes the confidence of the people in the judicial system.”
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The Court noted that this was not an isolated case and similar delays are occurring in several High Courts.
The Supreme Court referred to its earlier ruling in Anil Rai v. State of Bihar (2001) 7 SCC 318, where it had issued clear guidelines regarding the timely pronouncement of judgments. The Court reiterated that:
- Judgments should be delivered without unnecessary delay.
- If judgments are not delivered within three months, the matter must be placed before the Chief Justice.
- After six months, cases may be reassigned to another Bench for fresh hearing.
The Court also condemned the practice of pronouncing only the operative order without a reasoned judgment, stating that it deprives parties of the right to seek further legal remedies.
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The Supreme Court directed:
- Registrar Generals of all High Courts must prepare monthly lists of cases where judgments are reserved but not delivered.
- If judgments are not pronounced within three months, the matters must be placed before the Chief Justice.
- If still not delivered, the Chief Justice must reassign the matter to another Bench.
- These directions are in addition to the earlier guidelines laid down in Anil Rai.
Finally, the Court disposed of the appeals with instructions that a copy of the judgment be circulated to all High Courts for strict compliance.
Case Title: Ravindra Pratap Shahi vs. State of U.P. & Ors.
Case Type: Criminal Appeal Nos. 3700-3701 of 2025 (arising out of SLP (Crl.) Nos. 4509-4510 of 2025)
Date of Judgment: 25 August 2025
Appellant: Ravindra Pratap Shahi
Respondents: State of Uttar Pradesh & Others
