The Supreme Court on Friday underscored the right to a speedy trial as fundamental, granting bail to an undertrial who had been in custody for nearly four years without a conclusion to his trial. The decision challenges the prolonged pre-trial detention and emphasizes the judiciary’s commitment to upholding constitutional rights.
The bench, led by Justices Hrishikesh Roy and Pankaj Mithal, ruled in favor of Raushan Singh, who had been detained since October 2020 on charges filed in Bihar. Singh had approached the apex court following the Patna High Court’s June decision to deny his bail application.
In their ruling, the justices articulated, “An undertrial cannot be subjugated to indefinite incarceration. Speedy conclusion of trial is a fundamental right, well-recognised in our jurisprudence.” This statement reaffirms the court’s stance on the essential nature of timely justice, which prevents unnecessary and potentially unjust extended detention.
Singh’s legal representative highlighted that despite the lengthy period of custody, the trial remained inconclusive with three more prosecution witnesses yet to be examined. This scenario painted a grim picture of the trial’s pace, prompting the Supreme Court’s intervention.
