Public faith in the judiciary is steadily declining due to cases that drag on for years without resolution. The saying justice delayed is justice denied feels increasingly relevant, as prolonged legal battles continue to frustrate citizens across the country.
A clear example is the disproportionate assets cases involving YS Jagan Mohan Reddy. The Central Bureau of Investigation registered its first FIR on August 17, 2011, following directions from the Andhra Pradesh High Court, alleging conspiracy, cheating, corruption and illegal asset accumulation.
Jagan Mohan Reddy was arrested by the CBI on May 27, 2012, and spent over 16 months in judicial custody. Between 2012 and 2014, the CBI filed 11 charge sheets, while the Enforcement Directorate filed nine prosecution complaints and attached assets worth thousands of crores.
Despite more than fifteen years passing since the case was registered, the trial has still not begun. The cases remain pending at the Nampally CBI Court, mainly due to repeated discharge petitions and procedural delays.
Over 120 discharge petitions filed by the accused have slowed progress significantly. These repeated legal hurdles have ensured that the prosecution stage itself has not yet commenced, raising serious concerns over judicial efficiency.
Adding to the delay, the sitting judge T Raghuram was recently transferred, and K Pattabhi Ramarao has taken charge. This change increases the likelihood of proceedings restarting, further pushing the trial timeline.
The quid pro quo cases linked to YS Jagan Mohan Reddy are highly complex. The new judge will require considerable time to study the charge sheets and evidence, which could again delay hearings by several months.
Such delays have occurred multiple times in the past. At this pace, it remains uncertain when the trial will actually begin and when it will finally conclude.
The Nampally CBI Court hears the cases every Friday. Jagan Mohan Reddy has skipped most Friday appearances since becoming chief minister, though he attended regularly until the 2019 elections, even pausing his padayatra each week.
After assuming office, he received exemption from personal appearances citing official duties. Even after losing power, he largely stayed away, appearing in court only on November 20, 2025, before again discontinuing attendance.
