Supreme Court Calls for Performance Audit of High Court Judges

Quick Summary

• Supreme Court bench comprising Justices surya Kant and N Kotiswar Singh raised concerns over frequent and “needless” breaks taken by high court judges, suggesting a need for performance audits.
• Justice Surya kant stated that while some HC judges work diligently, complaints have emerged about others spending excessive time on breaks, impacting judicial output relative to expenditure.
• The remarks were made during a case concerning delayed judgments in the Jharkhand high Court. Criminal appeal judgments reserved in 2022 were only pronounced after SC intervention in May 2023.
• In one of the cases where three individuals were acquitted, they remained jailed due to delayed release orders from trial courts. SC ordered their immediate release and emphasized adherence to prescribed timelines for verdicts moving forward.
• Supreme Court directed its registry to gather data on HC delays, scheduling further discussion on the matter for July.

!It’s time a performance audit of HC judges is done: Supreme Court

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Indian Opinion Analysis

The Supreme Court’s call for performance audits of high court judges signals broader concerns regarding judicial efficiency and accountability within India’s legal system. While some judges reportedly uphold rigorous work ethics, consistent complaints about delays-due in part to frequent breaks-highlight critical inefficiencies impacting both litigants and public trust in institutions.This specific instance involving delayed judgment from Jharkhand High Court throws light on systemic gaps from decision-making timelines to procedural execution at trial courts-which exacerbated hardship even after acquittal rulings. Streamlining mechanisms such as adhering strictly to verdict timelines or improved administrative coordination for release orders are measures worth exploring.

The proposed registry data collection coudl offer valuable insights into recurring issues across high courts nationwide if properly utilized. it remains crucial that any reform addresses structural flaws without compromising judicial independence or quality of deliberations central to India’s legal framework advancements.