The Supreme Court has stayed the three-year jail term of six convicts, observing that criminal appeals remain heavily pending in High Courts with no immediate prospect of hearings. A bench of Justice Dipankar Datta and Justice Vijay Bishnoi noted that the convicts had challenged their conviction before the Chhattisgarh High Court, where the matter is still pending.
The bench stated that the right to appeal is a statutory safeguard, and if convicts are forced to serve their full sentence before their appeals are heard, it would amount to a miscarriage of justice. The apex court stressed that the High Court overlooked this crucial aspect while rejecting their plea earlier in March 2025.
Among the six convicts, two were also convicted under the POCSO Act, 2012. The top court ordered their release on bail, subject to conditions set by the trial court, while directing the High Court to expedite the pending appeal. It further clarified that if appellants deliberately delay proceedings, the High Court would be free to pass suitable orders against them.
