Overview

• A bench of Justices Sanjay Karol and Prashant Kumar Mishra directed that judgments reserved after hearing must be pronounced within three months.
• If the deadline lapses, the Registrar General must place the matter before the Chief Justice, who will require pronouncement within two weeks.
• If a bench still fails to deliver, the case is to be reassigned to another bench for decision.
• Registrar Generals must, for three months, furnish monthly lists to the Chief Justice identifying reserved matters not pronounced to enable oversight.
• Calling prolonged reservation a violation of the right to speedy justice that undermines public confidence, the Court ordered circulation of its directions to all High Courts for compliance.