‘Courts will work day and night to complete trials, provide infrastructure’, S

New Delhi: The Supreme Court on Tuesday asked the Center to provide necessary judicial infrastructure. The apex court said it will ensure that courts work day and night and the trial of those accused who have committed crimes against the nation and are involved in heinous crimes is completed within six months. The bench of Justice Surya Kant, Justice Ujjal Bhuiyan and Justice N Kotishwar Singh, while advocating speedy trial against hardened criminals, said that if the trial is completed in six months, then the accused will not be able to get bail on the basis of long trial.

The Supreme Court bench told Additional Solicitor General (ASG) Aishwarya Bhati, appearing for the Centre, “You just provide the necessary infrastructure so that the trial is completed expeditiously, so that those who have committed crimes against the nation or are involved in heinous crimes do not get bail.” We will ensure that the courts work day and night to complete the trial in six months.” The ASG said the Union Home Secretary is aware of the matter and meetings have been held with various state governments on the issue of setting up special NIA courts and other dedicated courts for special laws.

Settlement of the case in six months is beneficial for everyone

The Supreme Court bench said that the cost of litigation is very high nowadays and it would be beneficial for all parties if the trial is completed in six months. The top court said that the NIA should take advantage of the online facility of the courts for the deposition of witnesses, so that they can testify freely even from remote places and ensure that the trial is conducted expeditiously. “You have to ensure their safety under the Witness Protection Scheme and they are not required to come to Delhi from Srinagar or other distant places,” the bench remarked.

Rely on credibility rather than a large list of witnesses

On the issue of inclusion of a large number of witnesses in NIA cases, the bench said the prosecution should cut down the huge list and rely on those who are most credible. Bhati assured the apex court that the Home Ministry is already deliberating on these issues and a blueprint will be presented before the court soon. Earlier, while hearing the NIA case involving Maoist sympathizer Kailash Ramchandani and notorious criminal Mahesh Khatri, arrested under the Unlawful Activities Act (UAPA), the top court slammed the Center and Maharashtra government for not constituting courts for cases under special laws and expressed concern that courts would be forced to grant bail to the accused.

The court had said, “If the authority fails to set up courts with the requisite infrastructure for speedy trial under the NIA Act and other special laws, the court will inevitably be forced to release the accused on bail, as there is no effective mechanism to conclude the trial in a time-bound manner.” The top court passed the order on the bail plea of ​​Ramchandani, a resident of Gadchiroli, Maharashtra. Ramchandani was booked after 15 policemen of the state police’s quick reaction team were killed in an IED blast in 2019. (input language)

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