Supreme Court Questions Punjab & Haryana HC Over Delay in Publishing Bail Order, Orders Probe into Backdating Allegations [Read Order]

In a recent order, the Supreme Court of India raised serious concerns about the delay in uploading a bail order by the Punjab and Haryana High Court and directed an inquiry into possible backdating of the order.

The case arose from a special leave petition filed by Ajay Maini challenging the High Court’s order dated 31 July 2025 in CRM-M No. 41202/2025, which had rejected his anticipatory bail plea in connection with FIR No. 155 of 2025 registered on 6 May 2025 at Police Station Dabua, Faridabad, Haryana.

The petitioner’s counsel argued that the High Court’s order had not been uploaded on the website even by 20 August 2025, which compelled him to approach the Supreme Court without a certified or plain copy of the impugned order.

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The matter was listed on 20 August 2025, and the Court observing the unexplained delay, directed the Registrar General of the High Court to submit a report.

The report explained that although the order was dated 31 July 2025, it was not uploaded until after 22 August 2025. The Registrar General sought an explanation from the Secretary of the concerned Judge only on 22 August 2025 and submitted his report on 25 August 2025.

The Secretary stated that the Judge had been undergoing a medical procedure and surgery between 1 and 20 August 2025, but he did not specify when the order was actually uploaded. The Supreme Court observed that the order did not appear to have been passed on 31 July 2025 and seemed to have been issued only after its own intervention.

The Bench of Justice J.K. Maheshwari and Justice Vijay Bishnoi pointed out that such delays in uploading judicial orders affect the rights of parties and required closer scrutiny. The court directed that the Secretary’s steno book be seized to determine when the order was typed and corrected on the computer.

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The court further ordered a discreet inquiry and asked for a report from the National Informatics Centre regarding the date of typing and uploading of the order, to be filed on affidavit.

At the same time, the Supreme Court granted interim protection to Ajay Maini by directing that no coercive steps be taken against him, subject to his cooperation with the ongoing investigation.

The court also issued notice to the State of Haryana, returnable in four weeks, while waiving service on the complainant since their counsel was already present. The case will now proceed further after the inquiry report and the State’s response are placed before the Court.

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