The Supreme Court on Tuesday (February 6) dealing with a petitioner’s bail plea pending in the Allahabad High Court (which has not been even listed and he is in jail for 13 years) was informed by the amicus M N Rao that judges vacancies were also responsible for less disposal rate of criminal appeals.

Rao further submitted to the bench comprising of Justices J Chelameswar and Sanjay Kishan Kaul: “I am surprised that one appeal is pending since 42 years in Allahabad High Court.”

Rao also submitted to the bench that he is yet to receive final report from the registrar of the Allahabad High Court on the pendency of criminal petitions in the court.

Earlier, the apex court had appointed Rao as amicus and wanted to know as how many criminal petitions were pending in Allahabad High Court and how many benches were working for the disposal of the cases.

Meanwhile, during the course of proceedings, the petitioner submitted that he has been granted bail. The bench said that it will decide after receiving the final report.

The bench adjourned the matter for two weeks.

—India Legal Bureau