NEW DELHI: The Supreme Court on Thursday expressed strong displeasure at the Allahabad high court for adjourning a bail plea 27 times, calling it a serious lapse in a case concerning personal liberty .
“How can the high court adjourn a bail hearing 27 times in a matter related to personal liberty?” asked a bench led by Chief Justice BR Gavai and Justice Augustine George Masih while hearing the plea of Lakshya Tawar , an accused in a CBI-registered cheating and forgery case.
The top court granted Tawar bail and closed the proceedings pending before the high court, also issuing notice to the CBI on the issue of repeated adjournments, news agency PTI reported.
“In a matter of personal liberty, the high court is not expected to keep the case pending like this,” the Chief Justice observed, noting that the Supreme Court typically avoids intervening in matters concerning adjournments unless there are exceptional circumstances.
The Allahabad high court had last deferred the bail plea on March 20, directing the trial court to expedite the proceedings before the plea could be reconsidered. It had also cited Tawar’s extensive criminal history, noting 33 previous cases registered against him.
Tawar faces charges under several sections of the Indian Penal Code—including Sections 419, 420, 467, 468, 471, and 120B, as well as Sections 13(1)(d) and 13(2) of the Prevention of Corruption Act.
The high court had instructed the CBI to ensure the presence of the complainant, Sanjay Kumar Yadav, on the next hearing date and to facilitate both his testimony and the opportunity for cross-examination on the same day.
Despite these directions, the continued delays prompted the Supreme Court to step in, underscoring the judiciary’s responsibility to uphold timely justice, especially in matters of personal liberty.
“How can the high court adjourn a bail hearing 27 times in a matter related to personal liberty?” asked a bench led by Chief Justice BR Gavai and Justice Augustine George Masih while hearing the plea of Lakshya Tawar , an accused in a CBI-registered cheating and forgery case.
The top court granted Tawar bail and closed the proceedings pending before the high court, also issuing notice to the CBI on the issue of repeated adjournments, news agency PTI reported.
“In a matter of personal liberty, the high court is not expected to keep the case pending like this,” the Chief Justice observed, noting that the Supreme Court typically avoids intervening in matters concerning adjournments unless there are exceptional circumstances.
The Allahabad high court had last deferred the bail plea on March 20, directing the trial court to expedite the proceedings before the plea could be reconsidered. It had also cited Tawar’s extensive criminal history, noting 33 previous cases registered against him.
Tawar faces charges under several sections of the Indian Penal Code—including Sections 419, 420, 467, 468, 471, and 120B, as well as Sections 13(1)(d) and 13(2) of the Prevention of Corruption Act.
The high court had instructed the CBI to ensure the presence of the complainant, Sanjay Kumar Yadav, on the next hearing date and to facilitate both his testimony and the opportunity for cross-examination on the same day.
Despite these directions, the continued delays prompted the Supreme Court to step in, underscoring the judiciary’s responsibility to uphold timely justice, especially in matters of personal liberty.
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