In a significant order addressing systemic delays in the criminal justice system, the Supreme Court of India has issued a comprehensive set of directions to all High Courts to ensure the expeditious conduct of trials. While declining a plea by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) to cancel the bail of an accused in a rape case, a bench of Justice J.B. Pardiwala and Justice K.V. Viswanathan used the opportunity to decry the “common practice” of trial courts flouting the statutory mandate for day-to-day hearings, particularly after the examination of witnesses has commenced.

The Court directed that the trial in the present case be completed by December 31, 2025, and mandated that its order be circulated by all High Courts to the district judiciary to enforce compliance with procedura

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