Muzaffarpur (Bihar): In a striking example of judicial delay, a court in Bihar’s Muzaffarpur district delivered its verdict after 33 long years in a case involving the alleged snatching of just ₹225. The case, registered in 1992, remained pending for more than three decades, making it one of the oldest cases in the concerned court.
On Monday, the court of ACJM-I (West), Pankaj Kumar Tiwari, pronounced the final judgment and acquitted the three surviving accused due to insufficient evidence. The prosecution failed to establish the charges beyond doubt, leading to the release of the accused with honour.
Case Registered in 1992
According to the case details, the complainant Naval Kishore Chaudhary, a resident of Kharauna Jairam village under the Kurhani police station area, filed a complaint on December 22, 1992. He alleged that on December 20, 1992, he was attacked by Satyanand Chaudhary and his family members over a land dispute.
The complainant claimed that he was surrounded, assaulted, and that ₹225 was forcibly taken from the pocket of his coat. He further alleged that his bicycle was also detained for some time.
Two Accused Died During Trial
The case involved five accused members of the same family. However, the prolonged legal proceedings proved costly, as two of the accused — Satyadev Chaudhary and Harishankar Chaudhary — died during the course of the trial, never living to see the verdict.
The remaining three accused continued to face court proceedings for decades, spending a significant portion of their lives under the shadow of litigation.
Judicial Delay Raises Serious Questions
The conclusion of the case after 33 years has sparked widespread discussion, not because of the money involved, but because it highlights the slow pace of justice in resolving even minor disputes. Legal experts and citizens alike have raised concerns over how such prolonged litigation impacts both complainants and accused, draining time, resources, and peace of mind.
The verdict has once again brought attention to the urgent need for reforms aimed at ensuring speedy trials, especially in cases involving small disputes.