The Supreme Court on Friday observed that bail applications should not be heard by courts for more than ten minutes. .Lengthy hearings lasting for days in bail matters is a waste of the court's time, a bench of Justices Sanjay Kishan Kaul and AS Oka said. "I find it a complete waste of time when bail applications are heard for on an on... like an appeal on merits. Bail applications should be heard for not more than 10 minutes," the bench remarked..The observations came while hearing a plea by Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) student Sharjeel Imam who moved the top court to expunge certain remarks made against him by the Delhi High Court in its order denying bail to co-accused Umar Khalid in the Delhi Riots Conspiracy case. While denying bail to Khalid, the Delhi High Court had referred to Imam as 'arguably the head of the conspiracy'.Imam said that these remarks were made without giving him an opportunity of being heard and without any evidence on record, in clear violation of principles of natural justice..The Court today said that such observations creep into the judgment when bail matters are heard at length as if the Court is hearing a final appeal against conviction."These things (observations etc) only happen when bails are argued for so long like final appeals on conviction etc," the bench said.Khalid's bail plea had been heard for over 20 days before the Court had rejected it while also making remarks against Imam.The Court today allowed Imam's plea and ordered that any observation made by the Delhi High Court regarding role of Imam will not prejudice him in any manner."We have noticed in para 68 that the division bench has clarified that observations will not impact merits of the case. . Therefore we clarify that any observation made regarding role of petitioner will not prejudice the petitioner in any manner," the top court said..[Read live coverage of hearing below]
The Supreme Court on Friday observed that bail applications should not be heard by courts for more than ten minutes. .Lengthy hearings lasting for days in bail matters is a waste of the court's time, a bench of Justices Sanjay Kishan Kaul and AS Oka said. "I find it a complete waste of time when bail applications are heard for on an on... like an appeal on merits. Bail applications should be heard for not more than 10 minutes," the bench remarked..The observations came while hearing a plea by Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) student Sharjeel Imam who moved the top court to expunge certain remarks made against him by the Delhi High Court in its order denying bail to co-accused Umar Khalid in the Delhi Riots Conspiracy case. While denying bail to Khalid, the Delhi High Court had referred to Imam as 'arguably the head of the conspiracy'.Imam said that these remarks were made without giving him an opportunity of being heard and without any evidence on record, in clear violation of principles of natural justice..The Court today said that such observations creep into the judgment when bail matters are heard at length as if the Court is hearing a final appeal against conviction."These things (observations etc) only happen when bails are argued for so long like final appeals on conviction etc," the bench said.Khalid's bail plea had been heard for over 20 days before the Court had rejected it while also making remarks against Imam.The Court today allowed Imam's plea and ordered that any observation made by the Delhi High Court regarding role of Imam will not prejudice him in any manner."We have noticed in para 68 that the division bench has clarified that observations will not impact merits of the case. . Therefore we clarify that any observation made regarding role of petitioner will not prejudice the petitioner in any manner," the top court said..[Read live coverage of hearing below]
