Bombay HC slams Kalyan court for delaying Eknath Shinde bail plea

On August 22, Waman Mhatre, a local leader of Eknath Shinde's Shiv Sena, filed a pre-arrest bail plea in the Kalyan sessions court. The plea was in response to a case against him for allegedly making derogatory remarks towards a woman journalist during a protest in Badlapur, which followed the sexual assault of two minor girls at a school. Mhatre's application for interim protection was also reportedly not addressed by the court. The sessions court had been adjourning the hearings, causing delays in the decision-making process. The Bombay High Court expressed dissatisfaction with the Kalyan sessions court's handling of Mhatre's bail plea, emphasizing the importance of timely decisions in cases involving a citizen's liberty. Justice Sandeep Marne highlighted that lower courts must prioritize pre-arrest bail applications and provide interim protection when necessary. The high court noted that delays in such matters only add to its own burden. During the hearing, Mhatre's legal team argued that the sessions court had not yet heard his plea, which was scheduled for August 29. The high court intervened, instructing the sessions judge to make a decision on Mhatre's application by that date and to submit a status report to the high court registry the same evening. This directive aimed to expedite the judicial process and ensure that Mhatre's rights were protected. Ultimately, the Bombay High Court disposed of Mhatre's appeal, reinforcing the need for lower courts to act swiftly in similar cases to uphold justice and protect individual liberties.