Smt.Akhtari Bi vs State Of M.P

The Supreme Court emphasized that the right to speedy justice is a fundamental right under Article 21 of the Constitution. It held that prolonged delays in the disposal of criminal appeals, particularly those where the accused are imprisoned, warrant the right to apply for bail. The Court directed that if an appeal is not disposed of within five years due to no fault of the convict, the convict may be released on bail, thereby reinforcing the need for timely judicial processes and the appointment of adequate judges to address backlog issues.