Supreme Court criticizes delay in hearing liberty-related cases

New Delhi: The Supreme Court on Thursday observed that courts should not keep matters related to personal liberty pending for long and give “long dates.”

A bench of Justices B.R. Gavai and Augustine George Masih made the remark after being informed that the Punjab and Haryana High Court had adjourned for two months a plea seeking temporary bail on medical grounds.

The petitioner’s counsel argued that his client had sought temporary bail as his two-year-old daughter required urgent surgery. However, the high court, in its February 21 order, adjourned the hearing until April 22.

“In cases of liberty, courts are not expected to give such long dates,” the Supreme Court said.

It allowed the petitioner to approach the high court for an earlier hearing and directed the high court to expedite the matter, considering the urgency of the child’s operation.