No insurance cover so far for Judge Kode

Mumbai, Apr 19 (UNI) Even as the final verdict in the 1993 Serial blasts is expected to be delivered on May 9, the insurance cover of Rs 25 lakhs for Designated TADA Judge P D Kode is yet to be cleared by the Law and Judiciary Department of the Maharashtra Government.

Judge Kode has been provided Z Plus security.

The Judge had convicted 100 serial blast accused, including members of underworld don Dawood Ibrahim gang and actor Sanjay Dutt.

The actor was, however, convicted under the Arms Act.

According to sources at TADA court, in 1995 the then TADA Judge J N Patel, now a Judge of the Bombay High Court, had moved an application before the state goverment, asking for an insurance cover of Rs 50 lakhs to whomsoever is pronouncing verdict in the serial blasts case.

It may be recalled Judge Patel had informed the state government that he had received numerous threat calls. But the state government rejected the insurance cover application, stating that the Judge has been already provided with Z plus security.

Following the refusal by the state government, the matter was taken to the high court. Subsequently, the court directed the state government to provide an insurance cover of Rs 25 lakhs to the Judge passing the verdict in the case.

According to the letter, which was submitted to the Law and Judiciary department of the state government, the proposal is still hanging in a cloud of uncertainty.

Reacting to the lukewarm response of the state government, Majeed Memon, Senior Defence counsel, asserted ''Judges, who are handling TADA cases indeed run a great risk to their life in view of high sensitivity of the cases. It is for this reason high security is provided to them. The claim of adequate insurance appears to be reasonable,'' he said.

Echoing the same sentiments, Ujjal Nikam, Special Public Prosecutor, said the State government should seriously and expeditiously consider the proposal and the same should be applied to all other Judges dealing in sensitive cases.'' UNI