Pendency Of Criminal Cases In Allahabad High Court Very Worrying: CJI NV Ramana

Chief Justice of India NV Ramana on Saturday expressed concern over the long pendency of criminal cases in the Allahabad High Court and requested the Allahabad High Court and the Bar to work on resolving the issue. 

"I do not want to point any fingers or lay any blame regarding the pendency in the Allahabad High Court relating to criminal cases, which is very worrying. I request the Allahabad Bar and Bench, to work together and cooperate to resolve this issue.", the CJI stated. 

The Chief Justice of India was speaking at the foundation stone laying ceremony of the new National Law University proposed to be established at Prayagraj, Uttar Pradesh. The event also involved laying the foundation stone of the new building complex of the Allahabad High Court. 

The event was also attended by Law Minister Kiren Rijiju, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, President Ram Nath Kovind, Acting Chief Justice of Allahabad High Court Justice Munishwar Nath Bhandari and other esteemed dignitaries.

The Chief Justice stated on Saturday that he hopes that the establishment of the new High Court complex will 're-energize the Allahabad Bar" and further facilitate the expeditious disposal of pending cases. 

The Supreme Court last month had issued notice to the Allahabad High Court in a batch of pleas to consider laying down broad parameters that could be considered by Allahabad High Court while granting bail. The division bench of Justices SK Kaul and Hrishikesh Roy had taken into consideration the submission of the Additional Advocate General Garima Prashad that there were almost 7400 convicts who were languishing in jail for more than 10 years and that there were some convicts who were poor and did not have the required resources. 

"We would expect that even before the next date, the state government itself takes some action for release of the convicts," the Court had stated. 

The directions were issued after the Apex Court on July 26, 2021 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 and had suggested to consider 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 Chief Justice of India on Saturday also acknowledged that the Allahabad Bar and Bench have produced some of the greatest legal luminaries in the country. 

"This Bar has left an indelible mark in India's freedom struggle and the drafting of our Constitution. I expect you to carry forward the extraordinary legacy, tradition and culture of this historic bar. I urge you all, to take a lead in protecting the rights, liberties and freedoms of the citizens", the CJI stated while referring to the contributions of the Allahabad High Court bar. 

He further made a reference to the 1975 judgment of Justice Jagmohanlal Sinha of Allahabad High Court which had resulted in the disqualification of  former Prime Minister of India Indira Gandhi thereby triggering the ominous Emergency era. 

"In 1975, it was Justice Jagmohanlal Sinha from the Allahabad High Court who passed the judgment that shook the nation, when he disqualified Smt. Indira Gandhi. It was a judgment of great courage, which could be said to have directly resulted in the declaration of Emergency. The consequences of which I do not want to elaborate now" , the CJI stated. 

The CJI also made reference to legal stalwarts such as Dr. Sachchidanand Sinha, the first President of the Constituent Assembly, Pandit Motilal Nehru, Sir Tej Bahadur Sapru and Purushottam Das Tandon were all members of the Allahabad Bar. 

"In the famous Chauri Chaura case, the appeal was argued by Pandit Madan Mohan Malaviya before this High Court", the CJI further added. 

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