Judges Taking Tea, Coffee Breaks Affect Performance; Work Continuously Till Lunch For Better Results

Supreme Court Pulls Up High Courts for Delays in Judgments: “Justice Delayed Is Personal Liberty Denied”

 

The Supreme Court has voiced deep concern over prolonged delays in pronouncement of judgments by High Courts, calling attention to the real human cost of such inaction—especially when it affects personal liberty. The trigger for this sharp observation was a case from the Jharkhand High Court, where criminal appeals were kept pending for nearly three years after being reserved for judgment.

 

A Bench of Justice Surya Kant and Justice N. Kotiswar Singh expressed its dismay while hearing a plea by four convicts, whose appeals were left undecided for over two years. It took the Supreme Court’s intervention for the High Court to finally deliver its verdict—acquitting three of the appellants and splitting the decision in the fourth case. All four were ultimately ordered to be released from custody.

 

Justice Surya Kant, visibly concerned, remarked:

 

> “We would like to examine a much larger issue—what is the output of the High Courts? What is the performance scale? What benchmarks should we have?”

 

 

 

His words reflected not only institutional concern but a deeper empathy for those who spend years behind bars waiting for a decision that could have changed their lives much earlier.

 

The Bench did not hold back in calling out a culture of inefficiency that appears to plague some corners of the judiciary. While appreciating the dedication of hard-working judges, Justice Kant criticized the repeated breaks taken by some:

 

> “Some judges work so hard, their commitment makes us proud… but others disappoint. They keep getting up for tea, coffee, this break, that break. Why not work continuously till lunch? That would bring better performance—and better justice.”

 

 

 

Advocate Fauzia Shakil, appearing for the petitioners, thanked the Court for stepping in, pointing out that the delay had “struck at the root of personal liberty.” She noted that the convicts could have been free years ago had the judgments been delivered on time.

 

The Court acknowledged the gravity of the issue and emphasized that delays in judgment delivery must not be treated lightly. Last week, the same Bench called for data from High Courts regarding all matters reserved before January 31, 2025, where decisions are still pending. Justice Kant reiterated that the timelines previously laid down by the Supreme Court for delivering judgments must be followed without fail.

 

This isn’t just a question of efficiency—it’s a matter of justice. For those awaiting verdicts, every day counts. And the Court’s message is clear: the system must not forget the people it exists to serve.

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