SCOTUS: consider restitution for time-barred relief
Supreme Court suggests restitution for cases where relief is time-barred
The Supreme Court has ruled that pleas related to cases where relief becomes unattainable due to the passage of time should not be dismissed as futile. Instead, the court has directed the formulation of alternative measures for restitution to address the wrongs done to petitioners.
In a specific case, the court directed ₹1 lakh compensation to a petitioner named Manoj Kumar within six weeks, along with an additional sum of ₹25,000 towards litigation costs. Kumar's petition stemmed from being denied a job at Delhi's Model Integrated Primary School in 2017.
Background of the case
Kumar applied for a job under the Scheduled Caste category at the school but was later informed that the post he applied for was no longer available. Despite scoring well in the recruitment process, Kumar was not awarded additional marks for his post-graduate degree. The institute argued that his degree was not in the relevant subject, but the court disagreed and set aside the institute's decision.
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The Supreme Court commended Kumar for his persistence in pursuing his case since 2017. Justice Narasimha, who authored the judgment, emphasized the importance of the court's duty to transcend time constraints and ensure justice. The court acknowledged that similar situations might arise in other cases, emphasizing the need to find solutions to address delays in the judicial process.
Addressing systemic issues
The court recognized the inherent difficulties in providing restitution when there are significant delays in legal proceedings. It noted that systemic issues within the judicial process contribute to these delays, affecting the nature of relief that can be granted to petitioners. As a result, the court emphasized the importance of considering alternative restitutory measures, such as monetary compensation, to address the injustices faced by petitioners due to delays in legal proceedings.
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