“Justice Cannot Wait Forever”: Rajasthan High Court Frees NDPS Convict on Bail Amid Mounting Appeal Backlog.
In a sharp reflection on the mounting crisis of delayed justice, the Rajasthan High Court has suspended the sentence of a man convicted under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act, granting him bail while his appeal remains unheard.
Justice Farjand Ali, while considering an application filed by Nimbaram, underscored the human cost of prolonged judicial delays.
Nimbaram had been convicted on January 22 and sentenced to seven years of rigorous imprisonment along with a fine of ₹50,000 under the NDPS Act.
However, the court took a broader view of the systemic bottleneck that continues to plague the criminal justice system.
Court Flags Decades-Long Pendency
In its order dated January 27, the High Court noted that thousands of criminal appeals — including those filed by inmates — have been pending for 20 to 30 years.
Many prisoners, it was observed, remain behind bars with little realistic expectation of their appeals being heard in the near future.
The bench cautioned against allowing such delays to inflict irreversible harm.
Emphasising the constitutional values of dignity and liberty, the court stated that when early adjudication appears unlikely, it is prudent to err on the side of safeguarding individual freedom rather than prolonging incarceration indefinitely.
Liberty Over Prolonged Uncertainty
Justice Ali’s remarks highlight a growing concern within the judiciary over the strain of backlog and its consequences.
The order reflects the court’s view that justice delayed to this extent risks undermining fundamental rights, particularly when convicts await appellate review for decades.
By suspending the sentence pending disposal of the appeal, the court signalled that personal liberty must not become collateral damage of systemic delays.
The ruling brings renewed attention to the urgent need for structural reforms and timely disposal of appeals, especially in cases where individuals remain incarcerated while their legal remedies remain stalled.
