Supreme Court Rules on Bail Pleas

• The Supreme Court of India has ruled that a High Court should either relegate bail petitions to the trial court immediately or promptly hear them on merits.
• The ruling was made in a judgment granting bail to Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal in the excise policy case.
• The court emphasized the importance of personal liberty in bail applications, and argued that bail should be adjudicated promptly on merits.
• Justices Surya Kant and Ujjal Bhuyan emphasized the importance of the trial court approach for bail, citing the benefits of multiple tiers of appeal and the trial judge’s ability to form a prima facie opinion.