Supreme Court of India has directed the Gadchiroli trial court to conduct day-to-day hearing in the case involving alleged naxal aid and Delhi University professor Dr. Gokarakonda Naga Saibaba who has been charged for offences punishable under sections 13, 18, 20, 38 and 39 of the Unlawful Activities Prevention Act.
A bench comprising of Justices JS Khehar and C Nagappan passed the order while hearing a special leave petition to appeal filed by Saibaba against the rejection of his bail application by Nagpur bench of Bombay High Court. It ordered:
At the present moment, we consider it just and appropriate to direct the trial court to hold day-to-day trial with effect from 04.03.2016 so as to record the statements of all material witnesses. The statements of the material witnesses, referred to hereinabove, be positively concluded before the next date of hearing.
The matter has now been posted for further hearing on 4 April 2016.
The bench also heard an SLP to appeal filed by Arundhati Roy against the contempt proceedings initiated against her by the Nagpur bench.
Earlier on 23 January, SC had refused to stay the contempt notice issued to Roy but had issued notice in her SLP to appeal against the contempt notice. Today, SC granted time to the counsel for Registrar of the High Court of Judicature at Bombay, Nagpur Bench to file any pleadings/documents if he so desires.
The contempt proceedings have now been stayed by the High Court after a notice was issued in the matter by the SC.
The matter has now been listed for hearing and final disposal on 12 July 2016.
Read the complete order here.
http://onelawstreet.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/02/arundhati-SCI-29feb2016.pdf
Image via jeanbaptisteparis.
