Even a day’s delay in bail affects citizens’ rights: Supreme Court

Frowning upon the inordinate delay in deciding bail, the Supreme Court said even a single day’s delay in deciding such matters adversely affects citizens’ fundamental rights.

“It has been observed by this court (that) even a single day delay in deciding the bail application adversely affects the fundamental rights of the citizens,” a Bench of Justices BR Gavai and KV Viswanathan said on Friday.

“We do not appreciate the practice of keeping bail applications pending for years together,” it said, noting that time and again the top court has emphasised the importance of personal liberty.

The observation came while disposing of a man’s plea complaining that his bail application was pending before the Allahabad High Court since August 2023 and there was no progress in the matter.

As the petitioner alleged that matter was adjourned repeatedly before the High Court without any effective hearing, the top court said: “We request the judge, before whom the matter is placed, to take up the matter on the same date and decide it as expeditiously as possible and, in any case, within a period of two weeks from November 11.”