New Delhi, Oct. 30 -- The Supreme Court on Wednesday lamented the persistent delay in framing charges in criminal trials across the country, observing that such hold-ups are among the primary causes of stagnation in the justice system. Indicating that the problem may require a uniform corrective mechanism, the court said it would examine whether nationwide guidelines should be issued to ensure that trial courts adhere to the statutory timelines mandated under the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS). A bench of justices Aravind Kumar and NV Anjaria noted that Section 251(b) of the BNSS requires charges in cases exclusively triable by a sessions court to be framed within 60 days of the first hearing. "We have noticed, time and again, that charges are not being framed even months and years after the charge sheet is filed. Until the charges are framed, the trial simply does not commence. This is one of the primary reasons for the trial getting delayed. Until and unless it is framed, trial will not commence. As such, this situation seems to be prevalent in most of the courts and we are of the considered opinion that certain directions need to be issued pan India in this regard," recorded the bench in its order, adding that the situation may warrant "pan-India directions". The court appointed senior advocate Sidharth Luthra as amicus curiae and sought assistance from Attorney General R Venkataramani, Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, and senior advocate S Nagamuthu as it considers formulating uniform directions applicable to all trial courts. The counsel for the state of Bihar was also requested to assist....