Supreme Court: victims have right to seek speedy trial like accused

The case concerns whether a victim (complainant) in a criminal trial has the legal standing (locus standi) to petition the High Court for a speedy trial, challenging a lower court order that dismissed such a petition on the grounds that the victim is merely a witness.

Who it concerns: Appellant: Renuka Jain (de facto complainant); Respondents: The State of NCT of Delhi & Ors.; Bench: Not explicitly named in the provided text, but the order is issued by the Supreme Court of India.

What the court decided

• The Court held that a victim is a definite stakeholder in the criminal justice system and is not limited to the role of a witness.
• The Court ruled that a victim has locus standi to seek a speedy trial, similar to the accused.
• The Court affirmed that a victim can file a petition under Section 528 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023 (B.N.S.S.) to direct the Trial Court to expedite proceedings.
• The Court noted that the cost imposition of Rs. 10,000 by the High Court was stayed by a previous order dated 24.07.2026.

Also in the document

• The Court cited previous judgments (Mangal Singh vs. Kishan Singh, Rattiram vs. State of Madhya Pradesh, Amir Hamza Shaikh vs. State of Maharashtra, Keshvendra Singh vs. Shankar Singh) to support the view that delay in trial causes suffering to victims.
• The Court referenced statutory provisions including Section 301, 302, and 24 of the Cr.P.C. and their counterparts in the B.N.S.S. (Sections 338, 339, and 2(y)).
• The High Court had previously dismissed the victim's petition as frivolous and imposed costs, which the Supreme Court is now reviewing.