'In Matters Of Personal Liberty, Courts Should Be Sensitive' : Supreme Court Criticises P&H HC For 2-Year Delay In Bail Hearing

The Supreme Court recently criticized the Punjab & Haryana High Court for delaying the hearing of a bail petition for nearly two years.

The bench comprising Justices Vikram Nath and Sandeep Mehta heard the case where the accused was aggrieved by the non-listing of hi bail plea before the High Court, as his plea was last listed in August, 2023, and since then the case was keeping adjourned on more than a dozen occasion either at the instance of the complainant or the State.

The Supreme Court was surprised to note about the repeated adjournment of the case at the request of complainant or the state's counsel, which it termed a severe blow to the personal liberty of an individual stating that “in the matter of personal liberty, the Courts should be sensitive and should not delay such matters nor grant frivolous adjournments.”

Accordingly, the notice was issued to the Respondents, and it was directed that “a copy of this order be sent to the Registrar General of the Punjab & Haryana High Court at Chandigarh for placing it before the Hon'ble Chief Justice.”

Cause Title: JAGTAR SINGH VERSUS STATE OF PUNJAB

Click here to read/download the order

Ms. Pooja Dhingra, Adv. Mr. Aditya Ranjan, AOR appeared for the Petitioner

Related - 'In Matters Of Personal Liberty, High Courts Can't Keep Matter Pending For Long': Supreme Court Grants Bail After 27 Adjournments By HC

'There Shouldn't Be Even A Single Day's Delay In Liberty Matters' : Supreme Court Expresses Concern At HC Delaying Bail Hearing