Ranchi – The Supreme Court has issued a notice to the Jharkhand High Court after hearing a plea filed by ten convicts—six sentenced to death and four to life imprisonment—who alleged unreasonable delay in the High Court’s decision on their appeals.
The petitioners had challenged their convictions in the Jharkhand High Court between 2018 and 2019. Hearings were concluded between 2022 and 2023, yet the court has not delivered its verdict, leading them to approach the Supreme Court for intervention.
Currently, nine of the petitioners are in Birsa Munda Central Jail, Ranchi, while one has been released on bail from Dumka jail.
A bench led by Justices Suryakant and Joymalya Bagchi raised concern over the fact that all appeals were heard and reserved for judgment by the same judge, signaling possible systemic issues in delay.
Advocate Fauzia Shakil, appearing for the convicts, argued that prolonged non-pronouncement of judgments violates Article 21 of the Indian Constitution, which protects the right to life and personal liberty, including the right to a speedy trial.
She cited HPA International vs Bhagwandas, where the apex court condemned the practice of reserving judgments indefinitely. She also referenced the Jharkhand High Court Rules (2001), which require that judgments be pronounced within six weeks of concluding arguments.
The plea further highlighted Supreme Court precedents that suggest convicts who have completed over eight years in prison are typically entitled to bail.
With inputs from IANS