The Supreme Court directed all high courts to pronounce judgements within three months of reserving orders, stressing that delays cause irreparable loss to litigants.
A bench led by Chief Justice Surya Kant and Justice Joymalya Baghchi emphasised that bail applications must be decided on the same day. If orders are reserved, they must be pronounced and uploaded the next day.
The court issued directions to ensure faster communication of bail and suspension orders to jail authorities. It said undertrials or convicts should be released preferably the same day or at most the next day.
The bench clarified that if only the operative portion of a judgment is pronounced, the reasoned verdict must be uploaded within 15 days. When a reasoned judgment is delivered in open court, it must be uploaded within 24 hours.
The Supreme Court invoked Article 142 of the Constitution to issue these directions. It added that if a judgment is not pronounced within four months of the reserving order, parties can approach the Chief Justice of the concerned high court to assign the matter to another bench.
