#prolonged trial

The Madhya Pradesh High Court has granted bail to an accused under the SC/ST Atrocities Act, emphasizing that prolonged judicial delay and lack of forensic evidence undermine the presumption of guilt. This ruling reinforces that procedural fairness under Section 483 BNSS can override the gravity of the offense when investigation gaps persist, setting a precedent for accused persons in similar stalled cases.

The Jharkhand High Court reduced a five-year sentence to time served after a 20-year trial delay, affirming that prolonged judicial inaction can justify proportionate sentencing even in serious culpable homicide cases. This sets a critical precedent for courts to weigh delay as a mitigating factor in sentencing, particularly for accused with clean records and no flight risk.

The Madhya Pradesh High Court granted bail in a tax evasion case under Sections 420, 409, and 120-B IPC, emphasizing that the absence of fraud, victim, or seized assets renders prolonged pre-trial detention disproportionate. This ruling reinforces that mere money laundering for tax avoidance, without dishonest intent to defraud, cannot justify indefinite custody under the new BNSS framework.

Chhattisgarh High Court reduces sentences to time already served for two accused convicted under IPC Sections 467, 468, 471, and 420/34, emphasizing the absence of financial gain, no prior criminal record, and the undue hardship of prolonged litigation. The ruling underscores judicial discretion in mitigating sentences for first-time offenders where retributive justice yields to rehabilitative considerations.

The Madhya Pradesh High Court granted bail in an NDPS case where the seized substance was predominantly cannabis stems and seeds, not the prohibited flower or resin, rendering the commercial quantity threshold inapplicable. This clarifies that mere possession of plant material does not automatically trigger Section 20 penalties, and prolonged pre-trial detention must yield to Article 21 when the prosecution's case hinges on a disputed statutory interpretation.

The Punjab & Haryana High Court ruled that a 14-year trial delay and absence of criminal antecedents warrant probation under Section 360 CrPC, prioritizing reformative justice over punitive sentencing. This sets a precedent for courts to consider systemic delays and offender reformation in sentencing, particularly for first-time offenders in non-heinous crimes.