22 Years For Murder Trial, 22 More For Appeal: Supreme Court Disturbed By Delay, Seeks Report From Jharkhand Govt & HC
Gursimran Kaur Bakshi
2 Aug 2026 11:19 AM IST
The Supreme Court has sought detailed reports from the Jharkhand Government and the Jharkhand High Court over extraordinary delays in the conclusion of a murder trial and the disposal of the ensuing criminal appeal, observing that the lapse of over two decades at each stage was "very disturbing."
The case concerns a petitioner, Simon Soren, who was put to trial for the offence of murder along with the other accused persons in the year 1981. The Trial Court held him guilt in the year 2002 and thereafter his appeal against conviction was decided by the Jharkhand High Court only in 2024.
The bench comprising Justice JB Pardiwala and Justice K Vinod Chandran lamented at the "disturbing" delay of 44 years in total.
It said: "It is very disturbing to note that although the incident is of the year 1981 yet the judgment and order passed by the Trial Court holding the petitioner guilty of the alleged crime is of the year 2002. We fail to understand, why it took 22 years for the Trial Court to complete the trial."
Adding to this, the bench further questioned: "Besides the above, we are also disturbed to note that the further statement of the petitioner under Section 313 of the Cr.P.C. was recorded in the year 1994 and, thereafter, the judgment was delivered in the year 2002. Even the High Court of Jharkhand took 22 years to decide the appeal preferred by the petitioner challenging the judgment and order of conviction passed by the Trial Court. This delay highlighted above is something very disturbing."
The bench has asked for a comprehensive report from the State of Jharkhand and the Jharkhand High Court on why it took 44 years to complete the trial and decide the appeal.
When the petitioner's counsel informed the Court that the petitioner is almost 70 years old and is now in jail hospital, the Court has asked for a report from the hospital authorities as regards the ailments he suffers and what type of treatment is being provided.
The court will hear the matter on August 19.
Case Details: SIMON SOREN v THE STATE OF JHARKHAND|SPECIAL LEAVE PETITION (CRIMINAL) Diary No(s).9856/2026
