UP: HC directs dist judges to expedite trials

Allahabad, Apr 23: Allahabad High Court has directed all the district judges of Uttar Pradesh and the DGP to ensure expeditious conclusion of trials and probes pending for long against public representatives and those criminal elements, who have polluted and vitiated the political arena.

A Bench comprising Justices Imtiyaz Murtaza and Amar Saran also directed them to issue direction for re-investigation, where erroneous final reports appear to have been submitted.

The court said where the accused public representatives are absconding or not cooperating with trials, necessary orders may be issued by the courts concerned.

''We find that the trial courts are recording acquittals on the ground that the witnesses have turned hostile. The possibilities of witnesses turning hostile are much greater in cases where the accused public representatives are wanted in several grave cases including those under section 302 IPC,'' observed the judges.

The judges, therefore, directed the DGP to see that investigating officers are directed to ensure that witnesses turn out on the date fixed for giving their evidence before the court concerned.

A committee has been constituted by the HC order, which has started functioning in UP for checking criminalisation of politics and other matters in the state.

UP Special Secretary Home had filed an affidavit in the HC, which mentions that in pursuance of the earlier direction, the committee has been constituted.

A circular has been issued by the Home Secretary on March 1, 2007 addressed to the DGP, DG (CB-CID), ADG (anti corruption), DG (prosecution), ADG (economice offences wing), ADG (security) and ADG (vigilance) directing them to provide all necessary records and information to the aforesaid committee.

The constituted committee is headed by Prakash Singh, a retired DGP, Sulkhan Singh (IPS), Sanjai Bhoosreddy (IAS) and V S Mishra, government advocate.

The committee has to submit its report to the HC for checking criminalisation of politics and other matters.

The court had directed the state government to fully cooperate with the committee and to provide all material documents and other reports and provide expenses to the committee.

UNI