The Supreme Court on Wednesday expressed grave concern over inordinate delays in the framing of charges in criminal trials, despite the mandate in Section 251(b) of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS) that charges in cases exclusively triable by a court of sessions, charge must be framed within 60 days of the first hearing.

Observing that such delays are among the primary causes for stagnation in criminal proceedings, the Bench said it was “of the considered opinion that certain directions need to be issued pan-India” to ensure adherence to the statutory mandate.

The Court requested Senior Advocate Siddharth Luthra to assist it as amicus curiae in the matter, alongside the counsel for the State of Bihar. The Court also sought the assistance of the Attorney General for Indi

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