Overview
- High courts and subordinate courts must dispose of bail and anticipatory bail applications within two months of filing, except where parties cause the delay.
- The Supreme Court directed its Registrar to send the judgment to all high courts, which must issue administrative directions to prioritise liberty matters and avoid indefinite adjournments.
- The court held that prolonged pendency violates Articles 14 and 21 and amounts to a denial of justice, noting that bail decisions are ordinarily straightforward.
- The ruling arose from a Bombay High Court matter where anticipatory bail pleas filed in 2019 lingered for nearly six years; the Supreme Court upheld the denials on merits but condemned the delay.
- Citing heavy backlogs, including over 262,000 pending bail applications in district courts, the bench also told investigating agencies to conclude probes promptly so neither complainants nor accused are prejudiced.