Srinagar, Feb. 6 -- The judiciary occupies a unique and revered place in India's democratic framework. It is the institution people turn to when all other avenues fail, the final guardian of rights and liberties. That trust, however, is not unconditional; it rests on the expectation that justice will be delivered fairly and without undue delay. The growing practice of reserving judgments for months without making them public has therefore become a matter of concern.

When a case is argued and reserved for judgment, litigants naturally expect closure within a reasonable time. Yet, delays in pronouncement or uploading of judgments leave them in limbo, uncertain about their rights and remedies. For individuals, this can mean prolonged suffer...