In a significant directive aimed at reducing judicial delays, the Supreme Court of India has instructed all High Courts to pronounce judgments within three months of reserving verdicts.

The decision comes in response to numerous appeals in criminal cases remaining pending for long durations, raising concerns about delays in delivering justice.

Chief Justice Surya Kant and Justice Joymalya Bagchi emphasised that cases involving personal liberty, regular bail, and anticipatory bail must be handled with utmost urgency.

Bail applications should ideally be decided and orders uploaded on the same day, or, if reserved, pronounced the next day with immediate communication to jail authorities to ensure prompt release of undertrials or convicts.

For urgent cases where detailed reasoning is required, courts may deliver the operative part first and follow with a detailed judgment within 15 days.

The Supreme Court also mandated that High Court registries report monthly on reserved judgments, allowing Chief Justices to confidentially remind judges of cases pending for two months.If verdicts are not delivered within three months, the Chief Justice may reassign the case to another bench.Additionally, parties can request reassignment of cases themselves.Every judgment must now mention the date on which it was reserved.These measures aim to improve efficiency and accountability within the judiciary, ensuring that justice is not unnecessarily delayed.