CJI asks HCs to set up special benches for criminal appeals

Chief Justice of India Dipak Misra has written to the chief justices of all high courts asking them to set up special benches on Saturdays for hearing criminal appeals in which legal aid has been provided.

The CJI's letter highlights the issue of increasing pendency of cases,



specially criminal appeals, due to delay in disposal. In his letter Justice Misra acknowledged that one of the methods to ensure speedy disposal of such appeals was to identify and dispose of such appeals in which legal aid has been provided at the state expense.