India, May 31 -- The Supreme Court's sweeping instructions laying down a definite timeline for a decision on bail cases and pronouncing of reserved judgments has the potential to transform bail jurisprudence, but only if it is accompanied by stringent monitoring and associated shifts in judicial mindsets. Last week, a bench of Chief Justice of India Surya Kant and justice Joymalya Bagchi issued binding directions to all high courts, mandating that bail applications be decided on the same day or, at the latest, within 24 hours of hearing, while also fixing a strict three-month outer limit for pronouncement of reserved judgments. The apex court invoked its extraordinary powers under Article 142 of the Constitution to frame a nationwide fram...