'Quick hearing and early closure of the case is a fundamental right', Supreme Court gave order on a case from Bihar
In a case registered in Bihar, the person was in custody in jail for the last 4.2 years. The court said that the hearing of this case is not expected to end soon. The apex court gave this order on the petition of a person named Roshan Singh, who had challenged the June order of Patna High Court.
The Supreme Court said that a quick hearing and early closure of the case is a fundamental right. An undertrial prisoner cannot be kept in jail indefinitely.
The bench comprising Justice Hrishikesh Rai and Justice Pankaj Mithal made the observation while granting bail to the person. In a case registered in Bihar, the person had been in jail custody for the last 4.2 years. The court remarked that the hearing of the present case is not going to finish soon. The apex court gave this order on the petition of a person named Roshan Singh who had challenged the June order of Patna High Court.
The High Court had rejected his bail plea. Singh's counsel told the bench that the petitioner has been in custody since his arrest in October 2020 and that the trial in the case was still not over. The counsel appearing for the state informed that the statement of three more prosecution witnesses is yet to be recorded. The trial is being held up, as mentioned by counsel for the state, due to a discharge application filed by one of the accused in this case, said the bench.
The bench said considering the period of imprisonment and further the fact that the trial cannot be concluded soon, we think it proper to grant bail to the petitioner Raushan Singh. The bench said the trial court shall impose suitable conditions while granting bail. While rejecting the bail plea, the High Court had directed the trial court to conclude the trial as early as possible, preferably within six months.
