Picture credits: slator.com
The Supreme Court today ordered the High Courts and trial courts to be prompt in providing reasons behind judgments terming ‘delay in delivery’ of such reasoned judgments as violative of the Right to Life under Article 21 of the Constitution of India.
The decision came in the light of the Aurangabad bench of Bombay high court which had earlier this year in January pronounced a cryptic judgment in a case, saying “reasons will follow”, meaning that the detailed judgment would be given later. The litigant filed an appeal in March against the HC judgment well within the 90-day limitation period. However, the appeal was listed as the litigant had not provided the detailed judgment giving reasons behind the verdict.
Thus, commenting upon the above case, the Supreme court bench said, “The problem gets aggravated when the operative portion is made available early and the reasons follow much later. It cannot be countenanced that between the date of the operative portion of the order and the reasons disclosed, there is a hiatus period of nine months.” The bench also directs circulation of the copy of this order to all High Courts terming that as a 'reminder'.