Supreme Court calls for speedy trial in activist’s delayed criminal case

The Story in Brief

The Supreme Court said on Wednesday that “lifespan of a criminal trial cannot be that of a turtle”, taking exception to an over-three-year-long trial of an activist linked to the outlawed Popular Front of India (PFI). The court noted there was little prospect of an early end because the prosecution has listed about 700 witnesses. The petitioner, Shahid Khan, arrested on Sept 22, 2022, has appealed against a Karnataka High Court order rejecting his bail application.

Khan is accused of helping raise funds for PFI between 2011 and 2019 and of assisting teams alleged to have been planning attacks in Karnataka, Tamil Nadu and Kerala in retaliation against the Citizenship (Amendment) Act, a proposed National Register of Citizens, and certain court judgments relating to the hijab issue and the Babri demolition. His counsel argued his activities could not be treated as UAPA offences because his association predated the ban, that the allegations carry a maximum five-year term, and that there was little prospect of early trial completion despite a claimed chance of acquittal.

The Indian Opinion

The reporting quotes a sharp judicial remark and stresses the long duration of proceedings and the large number of witnesses. Such language can make the delay the central issue, which is important; at the same time, the factual allegations against the accused and the prosecution’s large witness list indicate complexity that may contribute to delay. Counsel’s argument that the conduct predates the ban and that the maximum penalty is five years is a legal position that bears on bail but does not resolve the factual questions. Given limited public detail on the evidence and reasons for delay, ordinary readers should note both the court’s concern about trial length and the still-unresolved substantive allegations.

Original article: ‘Criminal cases can’t have lifespan of turtle’: SC on activist’s trial delay (timesofindia.indiatimes.com)

This story was summarised and commented on by AI from the source linked above.