The Lucknow Bench of the High Court of Judicature at Allahabad, presided over by Justice Tej Pratap Tiwari, has called for comprehensive reports and proposed action plans from all District and Sessions Judges across Uttar Pradesh regarding the massive pendency of police final reports in subordinate courts, observing that inordinate delays severely impact the administration of criminal justice and cause unnecessary hardship to the parties involved.
Background of the Case
The direction came while hearing an application filed under Section 483 Cr.P.C. / Section 529 B.N.S.S. by two individuals, Asit Verma and another. The applicants approached the High Court seeking an order to expedite the pending criminal proceedings against them in Case No. 4917 of 2023 (Maya Gupta Versus Saumil and another), arising out of Case Crime No. 611 of 2019 under Sections 409, 467, 468, 471, 504, and 506 of the Indian Penal Code (I.P.C.) at Police Station Gosaiganj, District Lucknow. In this case, a police Final Report dated July 11, 2020, had been submitted before the trial court but remained pending for disposal.
Arguments of the Parties
Counsel for the applicants, Sri Shreet Raj Jaiswal, assisted by Sri Akash Verma, submitted that despite the submission of the final report on July 11, 2020, and the issuance of notice to the complainant, the trial court had not passed final orders. The counsel stated that the applicants are businessmen who are required to travel abroad for their business affairs, but due to the pending case, they face difficulty in conveniently renewing their passports.
The counsel further submitted that the applicants had previously approached the High Court under Section 528 B.N.S.S. No. 87 of 2026 (Asit Verma Versus State of U.P.), wherein the court on February 10, 2026, directed the lower court to decide the matter expeditiously, preferably within one week. Counsel prayed for a direction to the court concerned to finally pass an order regarding the final report pending before it. The State of U.P. was represented by the learned Additional Government Advocate (A.G.A.).
Court’s Analysis and Key Observations
Taking judicial notice of the widespread backlog, the court highlighted that approximately 50,000 final reports remain pending for disposal in the Lucknow Judgeship alone, calling it a matter of deep concern and systemic failure.
The court made the following verbatim observations:
“It is a matter of deep concern that the final reports submitted before the courts at the district level are being kept pending for long time. Even in a single judgeship i.e. Lucknow Judgeship, approximately 50000 cases are pending for disposal of the final reports.”
“As per the provision of law, the notice has to be issued to the complainant on the submission of final report. But the delay caused, owing to non-service of notice to the complainant/informant is not understandable because ultimate sufferer is the accused, relating to whom the final reports have been filed.”
“It has been brought into the knowledge of this Court that such cases are pending almost in all the districts across the State, but at the same time it is unfortunate that the final reports are kept pending for years for no fault on the part of the parties but because indifference on the part of the Presiding Officers. Once the final report is submitted before the court concerned, the Presiding Officers of the such court, is the first and foremost responsible officer under whose domain the matter comes. Unfortunately, this is the area where the system has failed to deliverance in time. It is understandable that contested cases cannot be decided in a haste way but as far as the final reports, which are submitted after completion of the investigation, how can be kept pending for such a long time.”
“This Court finds that the issue of prolonged pendency of final reports for an indefinite period is not in the interest of justice, as it delays the criminal process and causes unnecessary hardship to the parties. Such pendency, therefore, requires immediate attention and effective steps for its early disposal.”
“It is evident that neither the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973 nor the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023 prescribes any specific time frame for the disposal of final reports pending before the criminal courts. However, inordinate and prolonged pendency of such final reports cannot be permitted to continue, as it adversely affects the administration of criminal justice and unnecessarily prolongs the uncertainty of the parties concerned.”
Decision of the Court
Exercising its supervisory jurisdiction under Section 483 Cr.P.C. / Section 529 B.N.S.S., the High Court issued administrative directions to all District & Sessions Judges across Uttar Pradesh through the Registrar General/Senior Registrar. The District Judges have been directed to ensure that courts under their administrative control periodically review pendency and prioritize cases that have been pending for a considerable period, particularly where notice has already been issued to the complainant. They are also to impress upon Chief Judicial Magistrates and other Magistrates to make earnest endeavors for expeditious disposal.
Additionally, the High Court directed that reports be called from all District and Sessions Judges across the State on four specific points:
- How many final reports are pending (court-wise) in their District;
- Reason for not passing any order on the pending final reports;
- Action taken by the concerned learned District and Session Judges regarding the disposal of pending final reports in the criminal cases;
- Action plan/proposed plan, if any, prepared/adopted by the learned District and Session Judges for disposal of the final reports pending before them.
The court has scheduled the matter for further hearing on August 20, 2026, along with the compiled reports from across the State.
Case Details:
Case Title: Asit Verma And Another Versus State Of U.P Thru. Prin. Secy. Deptt. Home Lko. And Another
Case No.: Application U/S 529 B.N.S.S. No. 605 of 2026
Bench: Justice Tej Pratap Tiwari
Date: July 21, 2026
