#Undue Delay

The Allahabad High Court granted bail to an accused in a POCSO case after six years of inaction, with only two witnesses examined and no forensic report available. This ruling reinforces that excessive pre-trial detention without meaningful prosecution progress violates the right to speedy trial under Article 21, even in serious sexual offense cases, setting a critical precedent for judicial accountability in delayed POCSO trials.

The Andhra Pradesh High Court has ruled that delaying a Tatkaal passport application solely due to administrative inaction-when no charge sheet or court order exists-constitutes a violation of the right to travel, equality, and personal liberty. This sets a clear precedent for passport authorities: procedural silence cannot override statutory rights under the Passports Act, especially when no criminal bar is present.

Chhattisgarh High Court reduces a 5-year sentence to time served (1 year 9 months) for possession of 2kg cannabis, emphasizing proportionality where undue procedural delay and sub-commercial quantity mitigate punishment. The ruling underscores judicial discretion in balancing retribution with fairness in NDPS cases.