Fixing Probe Timelines Must Be an Exception, Not the Rule: Supreme Court Reins in High Court’s Directions
Introduction In a significant ruling reinforcing the balance between judicial oversight and investigative autonomy , the Supreme Court of India has held that fixing timelines for completion of criminal investigations must remain an exception and not the norm . The judgment cautions High Courts against routinely prescribing time-bound probes under Article 226 of the Constitution , emphasising that investigations are inherently complex and unpredictable. The ruling came while setting aside an Allahabad High Court order that directed the Uttar Pradesh Police to complete an investigation into an alleged arms licence forgery within three months and granted the accused protection from arrest. Background of the Case The case arose from allegations that three accused had obtained arms licences using forged documents . The police initiated the investigation in May 2024 . In June–July 2024 , the Allahabad High Court: Directed the police to complete the investigation within 90 days Granted the a...