The Supreme Court recently expressed shock over Allahabad High Court's delay in deciding the bail application of an accused in a murder case..The Bench of Justice JB Pardiwala and Justice R Mahadevan took note of the fact that the bail application has been pending before the Allahabad Bench for past 4 years"We are shocked to learn from the learned counsel appearing for the petitioner that the bail application filed by the petitioner in the High Court of Judicature at Allahabad bearing Criminal Miscellaneous Bail Application No. 40542 of 2020 is still pending as on date," the Court said..The accused, one Imran, through his counsel advocate Md. Anas Chaudhary, told the top court on January 6 that he has been in custody for about six years now and despite that, his application for bail was adjourned 16 times by the High Court.Advocate Chaudhary also submitted that co-accused have already been granted bail in the case. Accordingly, he sought interim bail for Imran in the case..However, the top court did not consider the prayer as it noted that prosecution has already closed evidence in the trial."Perhaps, what is now left could be the recording of the further statement of the petitioner-accused under Section 313 of the Cr.P.C. and the final arguments," it said..Considering that the trial is about to be completed, the top court also refrained from seeking an explanation from the High Court. However, it directed the matter be placed before the Allahabad High Court Chief Justice."The Registry shall forward this order to the High Court with a request to place this order before Hon’ble Chief Justice of the High Court of Allahabad for his kind consideration," it ordered..Advocates Md. Anas Chaudhary, Kavindra Yadav, Alia Bano Zaidi and Ansar Ahmad Chaudhary represented the accused.[Read Order]
