#Undue Delay in Trial

The Allahabad High Court granted bail to an accused after 15 years of uncompleted investigation and no charge sheet filed, affirming that excessive pre-trial delay violates the right to speedy trial under Article 21. This reinforces that prolonged investigative stagnation, irrespective of offense severity, justifies release when the state fails to advance the case, benefiting accused persons in stalled financial fraud cases nationwide.

The Rajasthan High Court granted bail to an accused under the NDPS Act after over two years in judicial custody with only one prosecution witness examined out of fourteen, affirming that undue trial delay violates the right to speedy justice under Article 21. This ruling reinforces that procedural stagnation, not just the gravity of the offense, justifies release - a critical precedent for undertrial detainees in drug cases nationwide.

The Gauhati High Court upheld the conviction under Sections 448 and 324 IPC but substituted the jail term with admonition under Section 4 of the Probation of Offenders Act, citing extreme delay in trial and absence of medical proof of injury. This ruling reinforces that undue delay can justify non-custodial sentencing even in serious offences, offering a new benchmark for courts handling protracted criminal cases.