Taking suo motu cognisance of the Ruchika molestation case, the Punjab and Haryana high court has said it was a prime example of justice delayed is justice denied, while observing that the time has come to put on fast track cases against top policemen, bureaucrats and politicians.

The court said the blame for the delay in the Ruchika case has to be shared by all concerned, including the justice delivery system.

It gave notices to Punjab and Haryana governments and the Union Territory of Chandigarh to furnish details about cases pending against officials and politicians by January 12.

In his order, Justice Ranjit Singh asked the two states and the union territory, through their home secretaries, to give information about cases pending against officers of the rank of superintendent of police and above, besides those against officers of the Indian Administrative Service and Indian Police Service, as the court did not want to be blamed for delaying justice.

"Bugged by the delay in deciding the Ruchika case, the public at large is clamouring for the heads of all those who were instrumental for the aberration," observed Justice Singh.

The courts, he said, could not absolve themselves of the blame for allowing well-connected people to circumvent the system and delay the investigations and the trial.

Justice Singh said, "One would always hear the names of some police officers, some politicians and other highly connected people who had not allowed the investigation or the trial to reach the decision stage with requisite speed."