Equally good ground for the granting of bail

“It is true that the view of the Supreme Court has consistently been that mere delay by itself is not a sufficient ground for the granting of bail; but, at the same time it cannot be said that inordinate or unjustified delay in the prosecution of a case amounting to an abuse of process of law can never be taken into account as relevant ground for the granting of bail. If the delay is so inordinate or so scandalous or so shocking as to amount clearly to an abuse of the process of law there can be no reason either in principle of law as to why it cannot be treated as a sufficient ground for the granting of bail. If such delay can be sufficient for quashing a criminal proceeding then it can also be an equally good ground for the granting of bail.”

(PLD 1974 Supreme Court 224)

Usde in Judgment of
Lahore High Court

Crl. Misc.-Post Arrest Bail 16753-B-16