Shahabuddin challenges legality of special courts,order reserved

Patna, Jul 24 (UNI) Patna High Court today reserved its order in a criminal writ filed by incarcerated RJD MP Mohammad Shahabuddin challenging the legality of the special courts constituted in the Siwan jail premises for speedy trial of cases pending against him.

A single bench of Justice S K Sharma reserved his order after hearing the arguments of both the petitioner and the prosecution.

Counsel of the petitioner alleged that special courts constituted for speedy trial of cases pending against the RJD MP were not as per the provision in the Indian Constitution.

However, the state counsel maintained before the bench that special courts were constituted strictly in accordance with law and there was no doubt over its legality.

Earlier, two courts--one of first class magistrate and another of additional district and sessions judge--were constituted by the state government in the Siwan jail premises on June 7, 2006 for speedy trial of the cases pending against Mohammad Shahabuddin.

The RJD MP was convicted by the special court in connection with the kidnapping of a CPI(ML) leader and recovery of stolen vehicles from the premises of his residence in Pratappur village of Siwan district.

UNI