SC frowns upon ‘long dates’ in matters of personal liberty
The Supreme Court on Thursday frowned upon courts keeping cases concerning personal liberty for hearing after long gaps.
A Bench led by Justice BR Gavai made the observation after being informed that the Punjab and Haryana High Court posted the hearing of a petition seeking an interim bail on medical grounds after two months.
“In the matters of liberty, the courts are not expected to keep the matter at such a long date,” said the Bench.
It permitted the petitioner to move the HC for an earlier hearing after his counsel said he had approached the high court for a temporary bail on the ground that his client’s two-year-old daughter needed urgent surgery. However, the HC on February 21 posted the matter for hearing on April 22, the counsel said.
The Bench asked the HC to advance the date and hear the issue at least with regard to grant of temporary bail on ground of operation of the petitioner’s daughter.
