Imtiyaz Ahmad vs State Of U.P.& Ors

The Supreme Court addressed the issue of prolonged stays on criminal investigations and trials by High Courts, particularly under Article 226 of the Constitution and Sections 482 and 397 of the Code of Criminal Procedure. The Court emphasized the need for timely justice and directed all High Courts to report on pending cases where proceedings were stayed, highlighting the significant backlog in serious criminal cases such as murder and rape. The Court's holding underscored the importance of expediting such cases to uphold the rule of law and ensure justice is not delayed.