Supreme Court pulls up Maharashtra govt. over ‘disturbing’ delays in criminal trials
The Supreme Court of India criticized the Maharashtra government for its slow pace in conducting criminal trials while simultaneously opposing bail for undertrials. The court demanded a formal explanation regarding the state's mechanisms for addressing these judicial delays.
Why it matters
It highlights systemic issues in the Indian judicial system regarding the rights of undertrial prisoners and the efficiency of state legal processes.
The Supreme Court on Friday (July 10, 2026) observed that it was “disturbing” that the Maharashtra government routinely opposes bail applications “tooth and nail” but fails to discharge its obligation of ensuring that criminal trials are conducted without undue delay. The court directed the State to apprise it of any specific policy or mechanism in place to address delays in the conduct of criminal trials.
A Bench comprising Justices Ahsanuddin Amanullah and Sheel Nagu was hearing an appeal filed by a foreign national challenging a Bombay High Court order rejecting his bail application in a case involving charges of murder and rioting. The Bench noted that he had remained in custody for over four years, during which only two of the 45 prosecution witnesses had been examined.
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