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The Supreme Court has directed High Courts and trial courts across India to expeditiously decide regular and anticipatory bail applications, ideally within two months of filing. Hearing the case Anna Waman Bhalerao v. State of Maharashtra, Justices JB Pardiwala and R Mahadevan underscored that long delays in processing such pleas violate personal liberty and the constitutional values enshrined in Articles 14 and 21. The Court found that prolonged pendency of bail proceedings not only contravenes the intent of the Code of Criminal Procedure but also denies justice.

Accordingly, the Court issued clear directions for the prompt disposal of bail and anticipatory bail applications, except where delays are caused by the parties involved. High Courts are instructed to prioritize cases concerning personal liberty and refrain from indefinite adjournments, with administrative instructions to subordinate courts aimed at preventing backlog. The Court also called upon investigating agencies to conduct timely investigations in order to prevent prejudice to either complainants or accused.

The Supreme Court stressed that as the highest State judicial forum, High Courts must develop systems to avoid accumulation and pendency of bail applications, so that the liberty of individuals is not held in abeyance. Pending bail requests impinge on fundamental rights and should be handled without unnecessary delay. To ensure immediate compliance, the Registrar (Judicial) was directed to circulate the judgment to all High Courts.

In the case at hand, the Supreme Court noted that while backlog poses challenges, cases involving personal liberty deserve special precedence. The appeal involved revenue officials whose bail applications remained undecided for over six years, ultimately rejected by the Bombay High Court in July 2025. The Supreme Court upheld the High Court’s decision, noting essential custodial interrogation and delayed cooperation from the appellants.

The judgment aims to reinforce the balance between maintaining judicial efficiency and protecting constitutional rights, framing timely decision-making as a prerequisite for justice in bail proceedings.