The Supreme Court directed the Allahabad High Court administration to expedite the listing and hearing of criminal appeals pending for over fifteen years, while noting the assurance that all such matters would be made ready and listed within three weeks. The Court also underscored that regular progress must be documented through affidavits.
This matter concerns the long pendency of criminal appeals before the Allahabad High Court and its Lucknow Bench. The Court sought clarity on the number of such cases and the pace at which they were being taken up. Pursuant to the Court’s direction, senior judicial officers from both benches appeared and submitted a detailed progress report.
During the proceedings, the Apex Court interacted with the Registrar (Judicial) Listing officers from Allahabad and Lucknow and reviewed their report dated 25 November 2025. The officials informed the Bench that paper books for all criminal appeals pending for more than fifteen years would be prepared, and the matters would be listed before appropriate benches within the next three weeks. The Bench accepted this assurance and placed it on record.
The report further revealed that at least 100 criminal appeals are being listed daily before various benches at Allahabad, while around 60 appeals are listed each day before benches at the Lucknow Bench. The Court noted these figures as an encouraging indication of consistent listing but emphasised that measurable progress must be maintained.
In its brief but firm observation, the Top Court directed that affidavits must be filed before the next hearing, setting out the progress made in hearing these long-pending appeals and specifying the number of matters in which judgments have been delivered by the respective benches.
The Court adjourned the matter in the interest of justice and dispensed with the need for further personal appearance of the concerned officers. However, it directed them to file progress affidavits before the next date. The matter has been listed for 21 January 2026 at 2:00 PM, as part-heard.
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