Supreme Court 'Shocked' That Judgments In 47 Civil Cases Reserved Before Jan 31 Remain To Be Pronounced By Jharkhand High Court

The Supreme Court was recently shocked to learn that out of 61 civil cases where decisions were reserved by the Jharkhand High Court prior to January 31, 2025, judgments remain to be pronounced in 47 cases.A bench of Justices MM Sundresh and Satish Chandra Sharma was apprised of the pendency by the Registrar General of the High Court. Perusing the affidavit of the High Court, and subject to the orders of CJI Gavai, it placed the matter before a bench led by Justice Surya Kant, as the judge is seized of a similar case pertaining to long pendency of judgments before the Jharkhand High Court."We have perused the affidavit filed by the Registrar General of the High Court of Jharkhand. The information furnished therein is shocking the judicial conscience. As the larger issue is pending before the Second Bench of this Court in case bearing W.P. (C) No.489/2025, which is likely to be taken up on 14.11.2025, the Registry is directed to post this matter along with W.P.(C) No.489/2025 after obtaining appropriate orders from Hon'ble The Chief Justice of India", the bench ordered.To recap, Justice Kant's bench is dealing with 6 petitions raising grievances with respect to recruitment process of home guards in the state. The High Court apparently failed to pronounce the judgments in the petitioners' cases despite lapse of 2 years (since 2023).During a hearing on August 8, the Court was informed that order(s) in the petitioners' cases had been released. But, going through a report filed by the High Court in sealed cover, the Court noted that judgments in 61 other cases were yet to be released. As such, it called on Jharkhand High Court judges to release 'reasoned' orders in the cases, without focusing too much on 'jurisprudence' etc. It even suggested that the judges take leaves and clear the backlog.Listing the matter in November, the Court impressed upon the High Court to take urgent steps to address the pendency of reserved judgments.Referring to the data presented in that case, the High Court Registrar General filed an affidavit in the present case. It was stated that out of the 61 civil cases, judgments in 47 are yet to be pronounced. 46 of these judgments are to be pronounced by one and the same judge, and 1 by another judge.Appearance: Senior Advocate Mukul Rohatgi, AoR Misha Rohatgi, Advocates Nakul Mohta and Aditya Dhingra (for petitioner)Case Title: M/S MIVAAN STEELS LIMITED VERSUS M/S BHARAT COOKING COAL LIMITED, Diary No.48094/2025Click here to read order

Supreme Court 'Shocked' That Judgments In 47 Civil Cases Reserved Before Jan 31 Remain To Be Pronounced By Jharkhand High Court

Debby Jain

As per the High Court's affidavit, 46 judgments remain to be pronounced by one judge.

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