NEW DELHI1, Feb 2026: The Delhi High Court recently expressed indignation at the prolonged pendency of bail applications in courts.
Justice Girish Kathpalia stated that such pendency is a matter of serious concern, causes trauma and violates the fundamental rights of accused persons.
The observations were made in relation to a bail plea of a murder accused whose petition was filed before the High Court in December 2024 and was adjourned multiple times since then by different benches.
“It is a matter of serious concern that bail applications remained pending for such inordinately long period before the Court of Sessions as well as this court. As mentioned above, even in this court, this bail application remained pending since 20.12.2024 and has come up before me today for the first time,” Justice Kathpoalia said.
He further stated that prolonged pendency of bail pleas causes trauma to accused persons detained in jails and violates fundamental rights.
“It has been repeatedly observed in plethora of judicial pronouncements that whether it be allowed or be dismissed, a bail application should not remain pending for such long periods. For, that in itself is a trauma for the incarcerated accused and violation of his fundamental rights,” the judge opined.
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