Bail courts to begin at 9 am from Monday
Amid rising pendency and a shrinking judicial strength, the Punjab and Haryana High Court has decided that all benches hearing criminal bail petitions — barring two — will begin proceedings from 9 am, an hour earlier, starting May 19 until the onset of summer vacations on May 29.
The order, issued by the Chief Justice, aims at expeditious disposal of bail matters, which directly impact personal liberty.
The directive comes as the High Court grapples with a judicial crisis, now functioning with just 50 judges against the sanctioned strength of 85 following the retirement of Justice Sureshwar Thakur. The situation is expected to worsen with the impending superannuation of Justice Manjari Nehru Kaul later this year and nine more judges, including the Chief Justice, in 2026.
