India, May 29 -- The Supreme Court on Friday issued a sweeping set of binding directions to all high courts across the country, mandating that bail applications be decided on the same day or, at the latest, within 24 hours of hearing, while also fixing a three-month outer limit for pronouncement of reserved judgments.

In a landmark move aimed at tackling judicial delays affecting personal liberty and speedy justice, a bench comprising Chief Justice of India Surya Kant and Justice Joymalya Bagchi laid down an extensive framework to institutionalise transparency, accountability and timelines in judicial functioning, holding that intervention by the apex court had become necessary "for complete justice to the parties".

The ruling came in p...