GK Question

polity medium true_false

In Hussainara Khatoon v. State of Bihar (1979), the Supreme Court recognized right to speedy trial as part of right to life and personal liberty under Article 21.

  1. True
  2. False

Answer: True

Right to speedy trial evolution: (a) Hussainara Khatoon (1979): Right to speedy trial implicit in Article 21; case involved undertrial prisoners detained longer than maximum sentence, (b) P. Ramachandra Rao (2002): Clarified no fixed time limit; courts balance nature of offence, delay reasons, prejudice to parties, (c) Impact: Release of thousands of undertrials, legal aid expansion, prison reforms. Procedural due process as part of Article 21: fair, just, reasonable procedure (Maneka Gandhi case). Foundation for criminal justice reforms.

Topic Article 21 Expansion - Right to Speedy Trial
Exam Relevance Procedural due process case frequently asked in UPSC and Judiciary exams
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