Vijay Kumar v. State of Rajasthan - Criminal Trial Pending- Interim Orders

Criminal Trials - If criminal trials in such serious offences remain pending for years together on the strength of interim orders passed by the High Courts, it would lead to nothing but mockery of justice. Justice has to be done with all the parties. Justice cannot be done only with the accused persons. Justice has to be done even with the victim and the family members of the victim. Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere- Chief Justices of all the High Courts requested to ensure that the petitions wherein interim orders are passed holding up the trials should be immediately taken up for hearing, more particularly in sensitive and serious matters like murder, dowry death, rape etc. (Para 29-30)

Context: Supreme Court of India dismissed SLP filed against High Court’s rejection of their 2003 criminal revision against framing charges under IPC Sections 498A and 304B in a dowry death case. Disturbed by a 23-year delay during which an interim stay halted the trial, the Court ordered the Rajasthan High Court’s Registrar General to send the full record and provide a year-wise breakup of criminal revision filings and disposals from 2001–2026, plus details of listings in this case. It also sought the State’s explanation for inaction, urged Chief Justices to promptly hear matters where interim orders stall serious trials, and listed the case for further orders on 15-01-2026.