#delay in prosecution

Karnataka High Court grants anticipatory bail to a 64-year-old accused in a 25-year-old cheating case, holding that prolonged prosecutorial delay and prior bail compliance outweigh the gravity of the offence. The court directed the trial court to dispose of any bail application on the same day of filing, reinforcing the principle that undue delay violates the right to speedy trial under Article 21.

Orissa High Court grants probation to a 73-year-old convict under Section 4 of the Probation of Offenders Act, holding that prolonged trial delay, advanced age, and a previously clean record outweigh the gravity of the offence. The court mandates victim compensation as a condition, setting a precedent for judicial discretion in sentencing first-time elderly offenders.

Madhya Pradesh High Court grants bail to accused due to inordinate delay in trial caused by complainant's non-appearance, affirming Article 21 right to speedy trial.