REPORTABLE

2026 INSC 369 IN THE SUPREME COURT OF INDIA CRIMINAL APPELLATE JURISDICTION CRIMINAL APPEAL NO. ___........................____ OF 2026 (Arising out of SLP (Crl.) No (s) .......... of 2026@Crl.MP. 7862 of 2017)

SHANKAR MAHTO ... APPELLANT(S)

VERSUS STATE OF BIHAR ... RESPONDENT(S)

O R D E R

SANJAY KAROL, J.

THE APPEAL AND ITS PREVIOUS ORDERS Delay condoned.

Leave granted.

1. While dealing with an appeal by the appellant, challenging the judgment of conviction and sentence to death awarded to him and confirmed in terms of Criminal Appeal No. 425 of 2002 passed by the High Court of Judicature at Patna, Signature Not Verified D R i A g J it N al I l y M s Ua ig K n Hs e I d b p y er judgment dated 20^th February, 2014, this Court in terms of the order dated Date: 2026.04.16 Reason:

05^th May, 2017, this Court noticed that inordinate delay was affecting matters in which legal aid was involved. With an intent to find out the cause for the same and issue directions as may be necessary, Ms. Vibha Datta Makhija, learned senior counsel, was appointed as amicus curiae to assist the Court. Since then, the matter has been listed on numerous occasions. By order dated 16^th October, 2019 it was