Courts Expected To Pass Order At Earliest In Matters Involving Personal Liberty: Supreme Court

A two-judge Bench of the Supreme Court has said that Courts are expected to pass orders one way or the other at the earliest, in matters involving personal liberty.

The Vacation Bench of Justice C. T. Ravikumar and Justice Sudhanshu Dhulia made that observation while considering an SLP against an order of the Delhi High Court adjourning the anticipatory bail application of the petitioner moved on May 24, 2022 to August 31, 2022. 

"We are of the considered view that in a matter involving personal liberty, the Court is expected to pass orders in one way or other taking into account the merits of the matter at the earliest", the Court said. 

The Court also said that "At any rate, posting an application for anticipatory bail after a couple of months cannot be appreciated".

The Court "requested" the High Court to dispose of the application for anticipatory bail on its own merits and in accordance with law expeditiously, preferably within a period of three weeks after the reopening of the Court.

The Bench directed that if the main application is not disposed of for any reason, within the stipulated time, the relief sought for in the interlocutory application shall be considered on its own merits.

The Bench granted interim protection from arrest to the petitioner till the High Court considers his application as directed by the Bench.

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