Expressing concern over the prolonged delays in pronouncing judgments by the Jharkhand High Court, the Supreme Court, led by Justice Surya Kant and Justice Joymalya Bagchi, urged that judges set aside dedicated time to address the growing backlog of cases.

The bench was hearing six petitions concerning the recruitment process for home guards in the state, where orders had remained pending for nearly two years after being reserved by the High Court in 2023.

The petitioners were declared successful in a recruitment drive held in 2017, but their appointments were never finalized, prompting them to seek relief from the High Court. Orders in their cases were eventually released, but during the August 8 proceedings, the Supreme Court was informed, through a report submitted in a sealed cover, that judgments in 61 other cases were still pending.

In light of this, the apex court urged the Jharkhand High Court judges to release ‘reasoned orders’ without placing undue emphasis on ‘jurisprudential’ technicalities so that litigants are not left waiting indefinitely.

Listing the matter for hearing in November, the bench impressed upon the High Court the need for urgent steps to clear the backlog of reserved judgments.

It is worth noting that earlier this year, the Supreme Court had dealt with two other matters raising similar concerns over delays in reserved judgments by the Jharkhand High Court.

In April, Justice Kant directed the Registrar General of the High Court to submit a status report on pending cases in a sealed cover. This directive was later expanded to include all High Courts to deliver on both criminal and civil cases within a stipulated time.

The intervention by the Supreme Court has already led to the release of some pending judgments.