Highest Court Of The Land Cannot Be A Walk In Place, Says Supreme Court [Read Order]

The highest Court of the land cannot be a walk in place, the Supreme Court remarked while dismissing a Special Leave Petition filed by Jammu Municipality on the ground of inordinate delay.

The bench of Sanjay Kishan Kaul and KM Joseph termed the Special Leave Petition as one among '"Certificate Cases" - the object being only to obtain dismissal from the Supreme Court. It noted that the special leave petition has been filed after a delay of 387 days with further delay of 302 days in refiling. It said:

The highest Court of the land cannot be a walk in place, more so for State Governments to file any time irrespective of period of limitation prescribed. To blame it on the inefficiency of the administration is no more a good excuse in view of the judgment in the case of Post Master General & Ors. v. Living Media India Ltd. & Anr. reported in (2012) 3 SCC 563.

While dismissing the SLP, the bench also directed the State administration to hold an inquiry into the aspect as to who is responsible for such inordinate delay and take suitable action against the officers concerned.

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