In a sharp critique of judicial delays, the Supreme Court granted bail to a man imprisoned since April 2017 without his trial ever commencing, despite charges stemming from a 2016 attempt-to-murder case in Maharashtra.
A bench comprising Justices Dipankar Datta and Prashant Kumar Mishra expressed astonishment at the prolonged inaction by the Sessions Court, remarking that the accused, Pradeep Pandurang Mane, had been left languishing in jail for over seven years without charges being framed.
“We fail to understand why, after seven and a half years, the trial has not even begun. Keeping an accused imprisoned without progress in the case is a violation of the fundamental right to life and amounts to punishment without trial,” the court observed.
Mane was charged under Sections 307 and 34 of the Indian Penal Code and Section 3(25) of the Arms Act. The Bombay High Court previously denied him bail in April 2024, citing his alleged role as the main assailant and a gang leader with a history of criminal cases.
However, the Supreme Court noted that Mane had already been acquitted in two of the six cases against him, while bail had been granted in others. The court highlighted the lack of justification for such a prolonged delay in this particular trial, emphasizing the necessity of upholding the rule of law.
“Long incarceration without trial breaches legal procedures and undermines basic rights. Justice delayed in this manner erodes public confidence in the system,” the bench stated.
Citing the absence of progress, the Supreme Court concluded that Mane’s continued imprisonment served no purpose and approved his release on bail.
This decision underscores the judiciary’s responsibility to ensure timely justice and prevent undue delays that strip individuals of their fundamental rights.
