Supreme Court flags 40-year delay by Allahabad HC in murder case, seeks solutions to judicial backlog

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A wide   presumption    of the High tribunal  of Allahabad successful  Prayagraj, Uttar Pradesh.

A wide presumption of the High tribunal of Allahabad successful Prayagraj, Uttar Pradesh. | Photo Credit: Getty Images/iStockphoto

The Supreme Court has expressed interest implicit the bonzer hold by the Allahabad High Court successful disposing of a 40-year-old transgression entreaty filed by a execution accused challenging his conviction.

A partial moving time (PWD) Bench comprising Justices Prashant Kumar Mishra and A.S. Chandurkar, connected Monday (June 8, 2026), described the concern arsenic disturbing and questioned what innovative measures could beryllium adopted to code the mounting pendency that continues to clog the justness transportation strategy successful the Allahabad High Court.

The lawsuit pertained to Vijay Singh who was 28 years aged erstwhile helium was arrested successful November 1983 for allegedly shooting his member dead.

A sessions tribunal astatine Kanpur convicted him of execution and sentenced him to beingness imprisonment successful December 1985.

Singh challenged the verdict earlier the Allahabad High Court. However, his entreaty remained pending for astir 41 years earlier being dismissed by the High Court done a 20-page judgement delivered connected February 9, 2026.

During the hearing, the Supreme Court noted that Singh had spent lone astir 3 months successful custody and remained connected bail for astir 43 years portion awaiting the result of his appeal.

The tribunal decided to proceed his bail during the pendency of proceedings earlier it.

The Bench voiced interest implicit the recurring contented of prolonged delays successful the Allahabad High Court, observing that litigants often attack the Supreme Court seeking directions for expeditious hearings due to the fact that of dense pendency.

Justice Mishra sought suggestions from elder advocator Siddharth Dave and advocator Zoheb Hossain connected imaginable measures to accelerate the disposal of aged cases. Mr. Dave suggested that prosecution appeals pending for much than 3 decades could beryllium dismissed to trim the backlog.

The Bench, however, rejected the idea, observing that cardinal principles of adjudication bash not licence dismissal of cases solely connected relationship of prolonged pendency.

The Bench cautioned that specified an attack could adversely impact nationalist involvement and deprive parties of an accidental to contiguous their case.

In his entreaty earlier the Supreme Court, Singh highlighted the prolonged delay, stating that helium is present 72 years aged and has spent his youth, mediate property and aged property nether the shadiness of a transgression conviction.

“For implicit 4 decades, done youth, mediate age, and present aged age, helium has lived nether the shadiness of that conviction,” the plea said, adding that his transgression entreaty had languished earlier the High Court for 40 years earlier being yet heard and dismissed.

Published - June 09, 2026 01:34 p.m. IST

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