Jayalalithaa DA case: Will the SC verdict be out before the TN polls?

New Delhi, Apr 1: The verdict in the J Jayalalithaa disproportionate assets case is likely to impact the outcome of the Tamil Nadu elections.

All political parties in fact are waiting for the outcome of the verdict. The question is will the Supreme Court deliver its verdict before May 16th?

Although there have been a couple of adjournments in the Supreme Court, the arguments have been fast paced.

Karnataka has completed its arguments while Subramanian Swamy, the original complainant in the case concluded with a one hour submission.

Senior DMK leader, Anbazhagan too concluded after he was directed by the Bench to submit written arguments.

Supreme Court breaks for vacations in May:

Interestingly the Supreme Court would close for summer vacations a day before the Tamil Nadu elections. The SC will be on vacation from May 15 to June 28 2016.

While there is ample time on hand to have a verdict in this case, a lot would depend on the submissions by the counsel for Jayalalithaa and her three aides.

Jayalalithaa's counsel is yet to advance arguments in the case.

When the Bench takes up this matter on April 5, her counsel is expected to commence arguments. Sources indicate that the arguments are likely to go on for at least 6 to 7 days.

This is likely to be followed by a brief reply by Karnataka, that is in case the Bench raises any questions In all there could be at least 10 more days of arguments.

Further there is a petition that has challenged the locus standi of the Karnataka High Court in admitting the appeal against conviction.

The supreme Court is likely to give this petition a minimal amount of time as the petitioner has challenged a well settled issue.

The courts have said that Karnataka is the prosecuting state as well as the appellate jurisdiction.

No time frame to pass order:

However it would be impossible for anyone to indicate the time that the Bench would take to pass an order once it is reserved.

The Bench prior to the commencement of the case indicated that it wants to complete proceedings soon and hence would hear it on a day to day basis.

The Bench has also cut short arguments when it found it to be repetitive in nature.

Yesterday the Bench said that the arguments need to be fresh and there is no need to make the same point over and over again.

Be it, Karnataka, Anbazhagan or Subramanian Swamy, all have the same prayer and that is to over turn the Karnataka High Court order of acquittal.

This would mean that the facts of the case remain the same and there is nothing new for anyone to add once Karnataka completed submissions.

Once the arguments are complete, the Bench would reserve the verdict. There have been times when a Bench has passed the order in a matter of ten days and there have been times when it has taken two months too.

However in this case, all eyes would be on the Supreme Court and the big question is will it deliver the verdict before May 15th before it closes for vacations?

OneIndia News