Report No. 77

1.10. Criterion for criminal cases.-

For criminal cases, the earlier criterion in some of the States was to dispose them of within four months. Although that should be the desideratum, the more realistic period for the disposal of these cases, in our opinion, should be six months. The period would be calculated from the date of filing of the charge sheet or complaint till the date of pronouncement of final judgment. In case of sessions trials, the above period should also include the time during which proceedings remained pending before the committing magistrate.