On September 19, 2025, the Chhattisgarh High Court acquitted 83-year-old Jageshwar Prasad Awadhiya, who had been falsely accused of demanding a ₹100 bribe in 1986 while working as a bill assistant in Raipur.
For 39 long years, his life revolved around courtrooms, hearings, and humiliation. Despite more than 100 hearings, no bribe money was recovered and no witness corroborated the charges. Finally, the court overturned his 2004 conviction, declaring him innocent.
But the damage was irreversible. During this time, Awadhiya lost his job, exhausted his savings, and faced unbearable personal losses. His wife died due to stress, his children were forced out of school because of unpaid fees, and his family carried the social stigma of being branded as “bribe-takers.”
This case not only highlights individual suffering but also reflects the larger issue of judicial delays in India, where more than 50 million cases are pending.
Justice delayed is Justice denied !