PILA PAHAN @ PEELA PAHAN Vs. STATE OF JHARKHAND

JUDGEMENT

(1.) The instant proceedings arise from various Writ Petitions which, thoughindividual in origin, sought similar prayers for "pronouncement of reserved judgements"statedly pending for indefinite periods of time before certain High Courts. The influx of thesecases, coupled with the startling picture presented regarding delays, brought into focus abroader issue affecting the administration of justice in several High Courts across the country.

(2.) In view of this, the scope of the proceedings was expanded to address a question of widerconstitutional significance. The objective was to identify and lay down comprehensive andbinding guidelines to remedy the persistent delay in the pronouncement of reservedjudgements by High Courts, so as to ensure that the reliefs claimed are not rendered nugatorymerely owing to the delayed delivery of the final decision.

(3.) We find it appropriate to first recapitulate the sequence of events that led to the filing ofthese petitions and the subsequent developments that arose during the course of theproceedings before this Court.