'Very Disturbing': SC to Frame Rules on Verdict Pronouncement Delays

Taking a stern view of the Jharkhand High Court’s prolonged delay in delivering judgments after reserving them for years, the Supreme Court on Monday called for reports from all high courts within a month regarding cases where verdicts were reserved on or before January 31.

A Division Bench of Justice Surya Kant and N Kotiswar Singh described the prolonged non-delivery of judgments as a "very disturbing issue" and indicated that it intends to establish certain mandatory guidelines for high courts.

"Let us see. Honestly speaking it is a very disturbing issue but we don't know the circumstances - why it has happened; but we would like to definitely lay down some mandatory guidelines. It cannot be allowed to happen like this," the bench remarked.