Long Pendency Of Appeals Before Allahabad High Court: Supreme Court To Consider Laying Down Parameters For Disposal On August 25

The division bench of Justices SK Kaul and Hrishikesh Roy while considering the note submitted by Additional Advocate General, Garima Prasad with regards to the guidelines that could be adopted by the High Court to deal with the aspects in each case remarked,

"It appears as if the criteria for grant of bail have been circulated only today. Petitioner's counsel will also examine the same. List on 25th August."

The Supreme Court on July 26, 2021, while hearing a batch of 18 petitions seeking bail had taken the view that the long pendency of appeals at the Allahabad High Court must be decided on broad parameters framed by the Court.

The bench had suggested considering the period undergone, the heinousness of the crime, the accused's age, the period taken in the trial, and whether the appellants are diligently prosecuting the appeals.

The Court had observed,

"As though we have 18 matters today, many more may arise only on account of the period of the sentence already undergone. In the conspectus of the same, suggestions can also be made qua 18 matters before us and we will examine whether those cases should be remitted to the High Court for consideration or there are some obvious cases which can be dealt with at the very threshold."

Upon Additional Advocate General, Garima Prasad's submission that she would furnish a note suggesting the guidelines that could be adopted by the High Court itself, the Court had also called for suggestions for the instant 18 matters based on which it will examine whether those cases should be remitted to the High Court for consideration or some obvious cases that can be dealt with at the very threshold.

It had also directed the High Court to assist AAG in formulating the note and suggestions following interaction between the Standing Counsel Vishnu Shankar Jain, the Registrar of the High Court and the AAG.

In the batch of pleas, the period of custody ranges from nine to fifteen years, except for the case of Sudan Singh, where it is seven years. On an earlier occasion, it was submitted by Advocate Nagendra Singh and Advocate on Record Ronak Karanpuria that the pending matters are unlikely to be heard soon.

Title: Saudan Singh v. The State of Uttar Pradesh

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