• MS. NIKITA SHARMA
• MS. KANISHKA

The promise of time-bound investigation and speedy trial has long been projected as a cornerstone of criminal justice, rooted in the constitutional guarantee of life and personal liberty under Article 21 of the Indian Constitution. Judicial pronouncements have repeatedly affirmed that justice delayed is justice denied, yet the lived reality of accused persons, victims, and courts reveals a persistent gap between constitutional rhetoric and institutional practice . This paper critically examines whether statutory timelines and judicial directions have translated into meaningful procedural efficiency or remain largely aspirational. By analysing constitutional jurisprudence, particularly landmark Supreme Court decisions, the study traces the evolution of the right to speedy trial from a judicially crafted doctrine to a legislative concern reflected in procedural laws and recent criminal law reforms . The abstract foregrounds how systemic challenges—such as investigative delays, prosecutorial inefficiencies, overcrowded dockets, and infrastructural constraints—continue to undermine the objective of expeditious justice despite formal timelines . It further explores the tension between speed and fairness, arguing that undue haste may compromise due process, while excessive delay erodes public confidence in the rule of law . The paper adopts a doctrinal and analytical approach to assess whether statutory mechanisms and judicial monitoring have effectively addressed delay or merely shifted responsibility without structural reform. It concludes that while time-bound investigation and speedy trial have strong normative and constitutional foundations, their practical realisation remains uneven. Without strengthening institutional capacity, accountability mechanisms, and victim-centric safeguards, the promise of timely justice risks remaining rhetorical rather than real. The abstract thus sets the stage for a deeper inquiry into whether India’s criminal justice system can reconcile constitutional ideals with ground-level realities .

Time-bound investigation; Speedy trial; Article 21; Criminal justice system; Procedural delay; Due process of law; Judicial accountability; Constitutional jurisprudence; Access to justice; Rule of law.

"Time-Bound Investigation and Speedy Trial: Reality or Rhetoric? ", International Journal of Emerging Technologies and Innovative Research (www.jetir.org), ISSN:2349-5162, Vol.13, Issue 1, page no.c127-c131, January-2026, Available :http://www.jetir.org/papers/JETIR2601213.pdf

"Time-Bound Investigation and Speedy Trial: Reality or Rhetoric? ", International Journal of Emerging Technologies and Innovative Research (www.jetir.org | UGC and issn Approved), ISSN:2349-5162, Vol.13, Issue 1, page no. ppc127-c131, January-2026, Available at : http://www.jetir.org/papers/JETIR2601213.pdf