Decade-Old Criminal Appeals in Allahabad HC: Supreme Court Directs Registrar to Present Listing Plan
Supreme Court expressed concern over 2,297 pending appeals involving accused with prolonged incarceration and sought a detailed roadmap for hearing and listing
SC flags delay in listing decade-old criminal appeals at Allahabad High Court, directs Registrar to present a concrete plan for speedy hearings
The Supreme Court on Monday expressed serious concern over the lack of a concrete mechanism for listing and hearing thousands of pending criminal appeals, many of which involve accused who have been languishing in incarceration for over a decade.
The Bench of Justices Sanjay Karol and Prashant Kumar Mishra made the observations after perusing the Report dated September 27, 2025, submitted by the Registrar Judicial (Listing) of the High Court of Judicature at Allahabad.
The Court noted that the report, which purportedly aimed to update it on the status of appeals, was deficient and did not provide a comprehensive working plan for the timely listing of cases. According to the report, a total of 2,297 appeals, comprising 2,036 main appeals and 261 connected appeals; remain pending, with the accused enduring incarceration for extended periods. Alarmingly, 52 cases alone involve accused who have been imprisoned for over fifteen years.
The Court observed that the report failed to address several critical aspects necessary for effective case management. Specifically, it highlighted that the report did not clarify:
1. The number of benches constituted or designated to hear these long-pending appeals;
2. Whether service upon the parties involved in the appeals had been completed;
3. The readiness of paper books and other procedural documents necessary for hearings;
4. Specific challenges or obstacles faced in listing these appeals, along with reasons for the delay.
Expressing concern over the administrative lapses, the Bench directed that the Registrar Judicial (Listing) who prepared the report, or the incumbent officer, must appear before the Court on the next date of hearing with a complete working plan.
The Court also directed that the learned Chief Justice of the Allahabad High Court be formally apprised of the order, underscoring the seriousness of the matter and the need for administrative accountability.
The matter has been listed for further hearing on October 16, 2025.
In a related news, in September, the Apex Court had deprecated the practice prevailing in the Allahabad High Court of passing cyclostyled template orders on the incorrect assumption that the Witness Protection Scheme, 2018 is a substitute for the cancellation of bail. The Bench of Justices J B Pardiwala and Sandeep Mehta had said it was dismayed to note that the High Court has been treating the scheme as an alternative remedy, while deciding pleas for cancellation of bail. “According to the High Court, scheme is an alternative remedy. We are at pains to note that we came across at least 40 recent orders, that have been passed in the last one year alone, as per the records available from the official website of the Allahabad High Court,” the Bench had said.
Case Title: Chatra Pal v. State of Uttar Pradesh & Anr.
Order Date: October 13, 2025
Bench: Justices Sanjay Kumar and Prashant Kumar Mishra