RATAN SINGH Vs. STATE OF MADHYA PRADESH

JUDGEMENT

(1.) Heard the learned Counsel appearing for the parties.

(2.) Given the fact that the petitioner has been in jail for a period of almost six years and given the fact that the appeal pending in the High Court of Madhya Pradesh, Indore Bench is likely to take time, we enlarge the petitioner on bail, subject to the satisfaction of the trial Court.

(3.) We have been shown our order dated 16.05.2018 which discloses a dismal state of affairs. Criminal Appeals apparently of the year 2001 and 2002 alone are being taken up for hearing in the State of Madhya Pradesh. Citizens of India have to face enormous hardship - many persons are languishing in jails. We are not at all happy with the stand taken by either the Union of India or the State of Madhya Pradesh. We may indicate that a previous Chief Justice of this Court had meetings with the Chief Justices from all the States in which it was suggested, and finally adopted by way of Resolution, that ad-hoc Judges be appointed within the present constitutional scheme to take care of arrears of this kind. We wish to know what steps have been taken in this regard by the Union of India as well as all the other States. Issue notice to all the other States.