New Delhi: The Supreme Court was informed on Friday that the Jharkhand High Court has delivered 32 judgements out of 61 cases where verdicts had been reserved for over six months, highlighting ongoing concerns about delayed justice in the state.

The Jharkhand High Court has come under scrutiny from the Supreme Court for prolonged delays, particularly in criminal matters, including cases involving death and life sentences. Senior advocate Ajit Sinha, appearing on behalf of the high court, informed a bench comprising Justices Surya Kant and Joymalya Bagchi that the remaining judgements would be pronounced within a month, adding that the judges are actively working on them.

“They have delivered 32 judgments till now, and the remaining will be done in a month’s time. The oral message of the court was placed before the judges of the high court, and they are working on giving verdicts in remaining cases,” Sinha stated.

The bench noted that it would take a holistic view of the matter and posted the case for further hearing in January, tagging it along with other pending matters.

This development comes after the Supreme Court had, on August 8, suggested that Jharkhand High Court judges take leave to focus on penning verdicts, citing dozens of cases in which judgments had not been pronounced for years. Sinha had earlier informed the court that, as of January 31, there were 61 cases pending judgment for over six months.

The delays have affected students and job aspirants, particularly in remote tribal areas of Jharkhand. A batch of petitions had been filed concerning the appointments of home guards. According to the petitions, the Jharkhand government had cancelled the recruitment for over 1,000 home guard posts advertised in 2017, even though several candidates were included in the merit list. The high court had been hearing these matters since 2021 and reserved orders on April 6, 2023. Students argued that despite long hearings, verdicts were still not delivered.

Similarly, in criminal cases, the Supreme Court was informed on July 21 that the high court delivered verdicts for 10 convicts, including six on death row, within a week after the convicts moved the top court, complaining of long delays in appeals against convictions. Advocate Fauzia Shakil, representing the convicts, submitted that the high court pronounced judgments promptly after the Supreme Court issued notices on their pleas on July 14.

During earlier hearings on May 13, the Supreme Court had criticized Jharkhand High Court judges for taking breaks “unnecessarily” while pending criminal cases remained unresolved. The top court even called for performance audits of the judges to ensure accountability and reduce delays.

This intervention by the Supreme Court underscores the persistent challenges of judicial delays in Jharkhand, affecting both civil and criminal justice. The high court has now committed to clearing the remaining reserved cases within a month, signaling a potential improvement in judicial efficiency.

The Supreme Court’s continued oversight highlights its proactive role in ensuring timely justice, particularly in states where pendency and delayed pronouncements have significantly impacted lives and public trust in the judicial process.