A Division Bench of Apex Court comprising of Justice Indu Malhotra and Justice Ajay Rastogi, in the case of Sudipta Chakrobarty & Anr. Vs. Ranaghat S.D. Hospital & Ors. [in Civil Appeal No. 9404/2019 delivered on February 15, 2021] has, while criticizing the practice of ‘reasons to follow’ orders, directed the National Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission (NCDRC) to pass reasoned judgment along with the operative order. The bench observed in no uncertain terms that in all matters before NCDRC where reasons are yet to be delivered, it must be ensured that the same are made available to the litigating parties positively within a period of two months.

Factual Background

In the present case, the reasoned order was passed on 20.12.2019 by the National Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission (“National Commission” for short). Afresh civil appeal was filed before this Court being C.A. No. 6476 of 2020, which has been dismissed vide Order dated 06.3.2020.

Supreme Court vide Order dated 08.1.2020 directed the Registrar of the National Commission to submit a Report stating the number of cases in which reasoned judgments had not been passed, even though the operative order had been pronounced in Court. By the report dated 27.7.2020, we have been informed that as on 20.12.2019, there were 85 such cases in which the operative order had been pronounced, but reasoned judgments were not delivered so far. 

Reasoning and Decision of the Court

“The fact which has been brought to our notice by the Registrar of the Commission can, in no manner, be countenanced that between the date of operative portion of the order and the reasons are yet to be provided, or the hiatus period is much more than what has been observed to be the maximum time period for even pronouncement of reserved judgments. In State of Punjab & Ors. Vs. Jagdev Singh Talwandi- the Constitution Bench of this Court, as far back in 1983, drew the attention of the Courts/Tribunal of the serious difficulties which were caused on account of a practice which was being adopted by the adjudicating authorities including High Courts/Commissions, that of pronouncing the final operative part of the orders without supporting reasons."

“Undisputedly, the rights of the aggrieved parties are being prejudiced if the reasons are not available to them to avail of the legal remedy of approaching the Court where the reasons can be scrutinized. It indeed amounts to defeating the rights of the party aggrieved to challenge the impugned judgment on merits and even the succeeding party is unable to obtain the fruits of success of the litigation.”  

The aforementioned principle, the Court noted, was emphatically restated by Supreme Court on several occasions wherein the delay in delivery of judgments was observed to be in violation of Article 21 of the Constitution of India and the problems gets aggravated when the operative portion is made available early, and the reasons follow much later, or are not made available for an indefinite period.

“In the instant case, the operative order was pronounced on 26.04.2019, and in the reasons disclosed, there is a hiatus period of eight months.” 

Held

“Let this Order be placed before the President of the National Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission to look into the matter, and take necessary steps so that this practice is discontinued, and the reasoned Judgment is passed alongwith the operative order. We would like to observe that in all matters where reasons are yet to be delivered, it must be ensured that the same are made available to the litigating parties positively within a period of two months."  

“With these observations, the Appeal stands disposed of. Pending application(s), if any, stand disposed of.”

Case Details

Name: Sudipta Chakrobarty & Anr. Vs. Ranaghat S.D. Hospital & Ors. 

Date: February 15, 2021

Case No.: Civil Appeal No. 9404/2019

Bench:  Justice Indu Malhotra and Justice Ajay Rastogi

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Advocate Sanjeev Sirohi