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SC tells Jharkhand HC judges: take leave to pen pending verdicts
My Day start with this news Today:
Supreme Court asks Jharkhand HC judges to go on leave to pen pending verdicts —
Read the full report on The Indian Express
.
In a pointed move to tackle judicial delay, the Supreme Court of India asked judges of the Jharkhand High Court to avail their sanctioned leave specifically to “pen pending verdicts” — i.e., to write and deliver judgments that have been reserved but not yet pronounced.
“Just get rid of these cases. People need judgments; they are not concerned about jurisprudence or something else.”
— Bench of Justices Surya Kant & Joymalya Bagchi
- Date of SC direction: 8 August 2025
- Number of pending cases flagged: 61
- Follow-up: SC to review progress in 3 months
What does “pen pending verdicts” mean?
Here, pen is used as a verb meaning to write. A pending verdict refers to a reserved judgment — hearings are complete but the written decision has not been issued. The phrase therefore asks judges to finish writing and file those reserved judgments so parties receive closure.
Why the Supreme Court intervened
The bench was hearing petitions involving recruitment disputes of students from tribal areas; some matters had been reserved since 6 April 2023. The apex court’s intervention reflects a broader concern about judgments being reserved for prolonged periods — sometimes stretching into years — which undermines the constitutional guarantee of speedy justice.
Recent context
- In July 2025, after SC notices, the Jharkhand High Court cleared 10 long-pending criminal cases, including 6 death-row appeals, within a week — showing backlog can be reduced rapidly when prioritised.
- The SC asked Senior Advocate Ajit Sinha to convey the leave-suggestion directly to the Chief Justice of the Jharkhand HC.
Why it matters to litigants
Delayed judgments mean prolonged uncertainty — financial, emotional, and sometimes physical (for those in custody). By urging judges to use leave for writing reserved decisions, the Supreme Court aims to restore prompt delivery of justice and remind courts of their duty to litigants.
What to watch
- SC review after three months to assess compliance.
- Whether other high courts adopt similar measures to clear backlogs.
- Potential policy-level conversations about curbing judgment reservation delays nationwide.
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- Anupama Singh
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