 Early Times Report
NEW DELHI, Feb 3: The practice of reserving judgments for months by high courts without making them public is an “identifiable ailment” that must be eradicated, the Supreme Court said on Tuesday while highlighting the need to ensure timely delivery of justice.
A bench comprising Chief Justice Surya Kant and Justices Joymalya Bagchi and Vipul M Pancholi was hearing a plea that said the Jharkhand High Court orally pronounced a judgment dismissing a petition on December 4 last year and the verdict has not yet been uploaded.
The bench said a complete judgment be provided to the counsel by the end of next week.
Senior advocate Mukul Rohatgi, appearing for the litigant, described the delay as “playing with the majesty of law,” suggesting that mere lip service was being paid to judicial obligations.
The Chief Justice explained that there are broadly two kinds of judges—those who reserve judgments but eventually deliver them, and those who delay delivery indefinitely. “This is a challenge before the judiciary and this is an identifiable ailment. It has to be treated and eradicated and it cannot be allowed to spread,” he said, emphasizing that the issue is systemic rather than personal.
He also referred to the common practice where cases are heard and then adjourned for further directions, stating that he would raise the issue in his upcoming meeting with the chief justices of high courts to find solutions to prevent such avoidable delays.
“In my 15 years as a high court judge, I never reserved a judgment and failed to deliver it within three months,” the CJI added.
The bench noted that the Jharkhand High Court’s judgment dated December 4, 2025, had yet to be uploaded and stressed that there was “no rhyme or reason for such delay.” The matter is now scheduled for listing in the week beginning February 16.
In November 2025, the Supreme Court had directed all high courts to submit detailed reports on the timelines for reserved judgments, including dates of reservation, pronouncement, and uploading. Compliance is being closely monitored, with certified copies of judgments required to clearly record these three dates. |
