SC seeks reports from all HCs on verdicts reserved but not pronounced
Shocked to know that the Jharkhand High Court has not pronounced verdicts in 67 criminal appeals after reserving its judgments, the Supreme Court on Monday asked all high courts to submit reports within a month on cases where judgements were reserved but not pronounced.
“We direct the Registrar General of all the High Courts to submit a report in respect of those cases where the judgments were reserved on or before 31.01.2025 and where the pronouncement of judgments is still awaited,” a Bench of Justice Surya Kant and Justice N Kotiswar Singh said, adding, “This cannot be allowed to happen.”
“The Report shall contain the Criminal Appeals and Civil Matters separately with a further specification as to whether it is a Division Bench Matter or a Single Bench Matter. The composition of Benches shall also be disclosed,” it said.
“The Registrar General of the high courts shall furnish the requisite information within four weeks. The (SC) Registry is directed to send a copy of this order to the Registrar General of all the high courts for information and necessary compliance,” the Bench said, posting the matter for further hearing on July 21.
Terming the situation as “disturbing", the Bench said it will lay down mandatory guidelines on the issue.
The Bench was hearing a petition filed by four life convicts, alleging that the Jharkhand High Court had reserved orders on their appeals against conviction in 2022 but did not pronounce verdicts due to which they were unable to claim the benefit of remission.
Monday’s order came after a report of the Jharkhand High Court Registrar General revealed that “there are 56 matters, including some Criminal Appeals, where a learned Division Bench of the high court has finally heard the matters on different dates ranging from 04.01.2022 till 16.12.2024 but the final pronouncements are still awaited.”
The report also revealed that “There are 11 Single Bench Matters also before another Hon’ble Judge where the judgments are reserved on different dates between 25.07.2024 to 27.09.2024.”
The top court also took note of the fact that a news report published on Monday said that the Jharkhand High Court has decided 75 Criminal Appeals in a week after this court sought information vide order dated 23.04.2025.”
It asked the Jharkhand State Legal Services Authority to take immediate necessary steps to provide legal assistance in terms of the decision taken by the Supreme Court Legal Services Committee, and ensure that the convicts like the petitioners were not left remediless.
India