Supreme Court declines to set case disposal deadlines for High Courts

The Supreme Court of India has declined to set a strict deadline for a High Court to decide a pending case, stating that appellate courts should respect the heavy docket pressures faced by lower courts. A Bench comprising Justice BV Nagarathna and Justice Augustine George Masih made this observation during a hearing involving a man in a matrimonial dispute who sought the return of his passport and an expedited hearing of a quashing petition.

Justice Nagarathna noted that the Supreme Court is averse to imposing specific timelines for the disposal of cases in High Courts or district courts. Reflecting on her previous experience as a High Court judge, she remarked, “We don’t even like to indicate to district judges about dates for disposal. We will not do it for the High Court also. Every judge has their own docket to be complied with every day.” She added that the court would not seek to replicate the feelings judges have toward such mandates simply because they now sit on the higher bench.