Septugenerian undertrial close to being absolved from murder charges

Faizabad Uttar Pradesh, Apr 12 (UNI) After 38-year-detention without any trial, 70 year old Jagjivan Ram Yadav, presently out here on bail, is expected to be absolved from murder charges on April 20.

Fifth Additional and Sessions Judge Lalchand Tripathi today reserved the judgement in the case for April 20 after all the witnesses and the doctor failed to turn up to record their evidence before the court.

Jagjivan is likely to be acquitted by the court as all the witnesses in the murder case failed to turn up, said public prosecutor Shailesh Mishra.

Jagjivan's counsel Ramkrishna Yadav maintained that there is no material evidence against his client hence he should be acquitted.

The counsel might move for compensation of Rs 20 lakh before the court after his acquittal on the ground of minimum wages for 38 years.

The judge, however, concluding the hearing even asked the public prosecutor to move a contempt case against the witnesses but the latter denied to do so.

Jagjivan was charged with the murder of his neighbour's wife in 1968 and his acquittal seems imminent, after all the witnesses and the doctor, who performed the postmortem on the deceased, failed to turn up in the court till now.

On February six last, taking suo motu notice of a UNI report that a 70-year-old man has been languishing in jail for the past 38 years sans trial, the Supreme Court issued notices to the UP government and the Registrar General of the Allahabad High Court.

The apex ourt bench comprising Chief Justice Y K Sabharwal and Justice C K Thakker, directed both the respondents to file their replies and place on record all relevant facts of the case.

Later UP government termed the 38-year-detention of Jagjivan in a state jail a ''judicial error,'' and blamed the court for not taking any congizance for such a long time leading to loss of all relevant documents of the case.

Subsequently Jagjivan was granted bail in the case.

MORE UNI MB ARS YA VC1855