AHMEDABAD: The Gujarat high court on Thursday asked the special National Investigation Agency (NIA) courts to have some ‘appropriate planning’ to delay examination of prosecution witnesses and trial after a couple of accused in different fake currency cases have been seeking regular bail citing sluggish pace of trials.
The HC also said that the trial court should not unnecessarily give chance to accused to complain about delay in trial.
In a case in which an accused is behind bars for last five years, the NIA added number of witnesses in its list for examination, but after the HC’s observations that proceedings should be expedited by the trial court, the prosecution curtailed the list to 34 witnesses and assured the HC that their examination would be over within two months.
The bench of Justice J B Pardiwala and Justice Niral Mehta posted the bail plea on February 24 for the hearing and directed the NIA court to conduct the case on day to day basis. “We don’t want any excuse of any nature at the end of the trial court,” the court said.
For another bail plea in a case, which is pending before another NIA court, the judges said, “We expect the NIA court to have some planning. We are sure, with appropriate planning, this problem of delay in trial can be cured.” The HC further commented, “Why unnecessary give chance to accused persons charged with serious offences to complain about fundamental right under Article 21 of Constitution?”
The HC also said that the trial court should not unnecessarily give chance to accused to complain about delay in trial.
In a case in which an accused is behind bars for last five years, the NIA added number of witnesses in its list for examination, but after the HC’s observations that proceedings should be expedited by the trial court, the prosecution curtailed the list to 34 witnesses and assured the HC that their examination would be over within two months.
The bench of Justice J B Pardiwala and Justice Niral Mehta posted the bail plea on February 24 for the hearing and directed the NIA court to conduct the case on day to day basis. “We don’t want any excuse of any nature at the end of the trial court,” the court said.
For another bail plea in a case, which is pending before another NIA court, the judges said, “We expect the NIA court to have some planning. We are sure, with appropriate planning, this problem of delay in trial can be cured.” The HC further commented, “Why unnecessary give chance to accused persons charged with serious offences to complain about fundamental right under Article 21 of Constitution?”
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