"Want Prosecution But No Speedy Trial": Top Court Raps Centre Over NIA Cases
A bench of Justices Surya Kant and Joymalya Bagchi questioned for how long will the undertrials be kept in custody and gave the Centre a "last opportunity" to set up special courts to tackle the cases.
"If the authorities fail to establish special courts with requisite infrastructure to conduct time bound trials, the courts would invariably be without any option but to release undertrials on bail as how long can such suspects be kept behind bars when there is no mechanism for speedy trial and conclude the same in time bound manner," a bench of Justices Surya Kant and Joymalya Bagchi said.
The court made the remarks while hearing the bail plea of one Kailash Ramachandani, an undertrial in an NIA case. On May 23, the court had sought the Centre's response, and said trial in such cases should ideally take place on a day-to-day basis.
It also emphasised the need to have dedicated courts to deal with trial of special cases under laws like the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA) and the Maharashtra Control of Organized Crime Act (MCOCA). On May 23,
"For how long (should) such suspects be kept in indefinite custody when there is no effective mechanism being provided to conclude trials in a time bound manner," the bench questioned on Friday.
The top court made it clear that "if the Union of India and respondent-state government fail to establish exclusive special courts, the prayer of petitioner for release on bail shall be considered on merits on the next date." "This will be the last opportunity," it said.
The top court took note of an affidavit filed by the secretary of NIA but said the document does not mention any effective or visible steps taken to conduct expeditious trials.
"You want prosecution under special acts also and yet no speedy trial for the accused," the bench said.
"The designation of an existing court or entrustment of exclusive trials under NIA Act to such designated courts would be at the cost of other court cases, including 100s of undertrials languishing in jails, senior citizens, marginalized sections, marital disputes, etc," it added.
Earlier, the top court said the release or denial of bail is indirectly a breach of Article 21 of the Constitution", it said.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
News18
37 minutes ago
- News18
Not Rafale Or F-35, Indian Army Wanted This Air Defence System For Rs 1.12 Lakh Crore
Last Updated: India is investing Rs 1.12 lakh crore in the QRSAM system, known as the "Baby S-400," developed by DRDO to counter drones and low-flying threats, enhancing air defence. The push to turn India into an air-tight fortress is gaining momentum. After the high-stakes Operation Sindoor, the Centre has accelerated military modernisation with a mega project valued at over Rs 3 lakh crore. Among the headline approvals is a Rs 1.12 lakh crore push to bolster India's air defence capabilities with the indigenous Quick Reaction Surface-to-Air Missile (QRSAM) system. Here's what's changing on the ground. The Ministry of Defence has just greenlit military procurement proposals exceeding Rs 1 lakh crore. These include 12 Mine Counter Measure Vessels (MCMVs) worth Rs 44,000 crore, but the big-ticket item is the Rs 36,000 crore allocated for six regiments of QRSAMs. Out of these, three regiments will be delivered to the Army and Air Force. The QRSAM isn't just any system. It's being called the 'Baby S-400", a nod to its smaller size but strategic importance. Developed by the DRDO, this air defence system can neutralise enemy aircraft, drones, and missiles within a 30 km radius. While that range may seem modest compared to the 400 km reach of the Russian-origin S-400 and the 100–200 km envelope of the Akash system, QRSAM's quick reaction time and battlefield mobility give it a distinct tactical edge. That's where QRSAM steps in. During Operation Sindoor, Pakistan, rattled by India's precision strikes, launched a barrage of drones, reportedly with Chinese and Turkish support. Hundreds were detected. India's Akash systems held the line. Still, experts say the absence of a mobile, quick-launch system like QRSAM was felt sharply. Now, with six regiments approved, the game is shifting. But it's not enough. According to defence officials, the Indian Army had originally asked for 11 QRSAM regiments. The Air Force reportedly had a similar requirement. Meeting both demands would require 22 regiments in total, pegged at a cost of roughly Rs 1.12 lakh crore. That's how the number came into play. Each QRSAM regiment costs about Rs 6,000 crore. While six have been cleared, that leaves a shortfall, one that defence planners say could prove critical if not addressed. Why does it matter? Because India's adversaries, especially China and Pakistan, are investing heavily in stealth drones, cruise missiles, and electronic warfare capabilities. The battlefield is shifting toward high-speed, low-visibility threats. QRSAM fills the gap between long-range missile shields like S-400 and medium-range options like Akash. If fully deployed, QRSAM would add another layer to India's multi-tier air defence strategy, creating a net that could detect and destroy nearly anything from UAVs to 5th-generation fighter jets. This isn't just about defence. It's about deterrence. With three regiments apiece going to the Army and Air Force, the system is finally getting into deployment phase. view comments Disclaimer: Comments reflect users' views, not News18's. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.
Hans India
an hour ago
- Hans India
BJP slams Chidambaram over ‘homegrown terrorists' remark on Pahalgam attack
New Delhi: Senior Congress leader P Chidambaram's remark suggesting that the terrorists involved in Pahalgam terror attack may have been "homegrown" rather than from Pakistan has sparked intense political backlash, with BJP leaders accusing the Congress of shielding terror sponsors and disrespecting national security concerns. Union Minister Anurag Thakur reacted sharply, stating: 'It is clearly visible that whenever India faced a terrorist attack, Congress never spoke against Pakistan. Take the 26/11 attack, for example, Congress did nothing and failed to give a strong response.' BJP MP CP Joshi questioned the Congress party's past actions saying, 'Before 2014, the country witnessed several terrorist attacks. Did you ever try to eliminate those terrorists or the masterminds behind the camps?' Chidambaram questioned government's immediate attribution of the attack to Pakistan, saying, 'What if they were homegrown terrorists? Why have you assumed they came from Pakistan? Where is the evidence? Has the NIA identified them? Where did they come from? Has the NIA revealed anything? Perhaps the terrorists were created here. The government is also hiding the extent of damage India suffered.' BJP MP Arun Govil, best known for portraying Lord Ram on screen, added: 'There can be no bigger lie in this world than what Chidambaram has said.' Former Maharashtra Minister and BJP leader Raj Purohit took it a step further: 'If they weren't Pakistanis, maybe they were Congressmen. Chidambaram has been the Home and Finance Minister, he knows things common people don't.' Even the Opposition appeared to distance itself from the remark. NCP (SP faction) leader Amar Sharadrao Kale said, 'I haven't heard the full statement, but the entire world knows who is behind these attacks. Pakistan's role is clear. We must respond in their own language.' Chidambaram's comments come ahead of a crucial Parliament debate on Operation Sindoor and the Pahalgam attack.
Hindustan Times
an hour ago
- Hindustan Times
Supreme Court to hear case against Bihar SIR today: What is the case about?
The Supreme Court of India is set to hear the pleas challenging the revision of the electoral rolls in Bihar on Monday, July 29. The plea before the top court challenges the Election Commission's decision to undertake a special intensive revision ahead of the assembly elections in the state. The plea before the top court challenges the Election Commission's decision to undertake a special intensive revision ahead of the assembly elections in the state. (Vipin Kumar/ Hindustan Times) The matter is expected to be heard by a bench comprising Justices Surya Kant and Joymalya Bagchi. The plea before the apex court argues that the SIR in Bihar could result in the disenfranchisement of a certain segment of Bihar's population. Also Read | Supreme Court to review Delhi's old vehicle ban today: What's the policy and why was it paused? "The petition submits that the SIR order dated June 24, 2025, if not set aside, can arbitrarily and without due process disenfranchise lakhs of citizens from electing their representatives, thereby disrupting free and fair elections and democracy in the country, which are part of the basic structure of the Constitution," states Association for Democratic Reforms, the NGO challenging the revision. The NGO has also questioned the exclusion of Aadhar and ration cards from the list of acceptable documents during the electoral roll revision. The Election Commission of India, however, has defended the exercise. In its affidavit before the court, the poll body has justified the revision and stated that the exercise will add to the "purity of the election by weeding out ineligible persons." Also Read | Bihar electors' number may dip for 1st time since 2005 "The entitlement to vote flows from Article 326 read with Sections 16 and 19 of the RP Act 1950 and Section 62 of the RP Act 1951, which contains certain qualifications with respect to citizenship, age, and ordinary residency. An ineligible person has no right to vote, and thus, cannot claim a violation of Articles 19 and 21 in this regard," said the polling body. What is Bihar SIR? The Election Commission of India launched the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) in Bihar on June 24. This decision comes ahead of the highly anticipated assembly elections in the state. As per ECI, the objective of the exercise is to update and clean up the electoral booths through house-to-house verification by Booth-Level Officers across Bihar. The exercise has been criticised by the opposition governments at the state and central levels. In the monsoon session of the Parliament, INDIA bloc MPS have challenged the exercise, stating that the SIR is removing "genuine voters" from the electoral rolls. A month after the exercise started, the Election Commission has stated that around 35 lakh voters in the Bihar electoral rolls have been flagged as missing. As per the press release issued on Sunday, many have moved to other states, some are deceased, some have not submitted the forms, and few have refused to register.
