Hussainara Khatoon v. State of Bihar 1979 is a landmark case in Indian legal history, as it recognized the right to a speedy trial as a fundamental right under the Indian Constitution.
The case was brought to the Supreme Court of India by Hussainara Khatoon, who was arrested and charged with a criminal offense. Khatoon claimed that she had been in detention for an excessive period of time without a trial, and that her right to a fair trial was being violated. The Supreme Court, in its decision, recognized that the right to a fair trial, as guaranteed by Article 21 of the Indian Constitution, includes the right to a speedy trial.