Khushi Gupta
Published on: April 20, 2022 at 16:10 IST
Victims of the Malegaon Blast Case of 2008 have written to Chief Justice of the Bombay High Court Dipankar Datta requesting for an Extension of the Tenure of Special Judge PR Sitre till the completion of the Trial in the Case.
“The Case has a chequered history with Litigation ongoing in Trial Court, High Court and Supreme Court with many questions of Law yet to be decided.”
“Two investigating agencies have filed Charge-sheets which run into thousands of pages. Judge Sitre is already Privy with the complexity of the matter and the Proceedings of the present matter. In addition, there are a total of 246 Witnesses already examined and not many Witnesses remain to be examined,” the letter stated.
The Victims addressed a letter through Advocate Shahid Nadeem on April 16, requesting that the Tenure of the Special Judge be extended.
“He (Judge Sitre) has with utmost dignity and impartiality, upholding the principles of Natural Justice and fair Trial, presided over the Case in a fair and independent manner- giving the Accused, the Victims and the Prosecutor no opportunity to complain,” the letter said in conclusion.
The 5-page letter also stated that transferring the present Judge would further delay the Trial which is already ongoing for over a decade.
“For a decade, the matter was moving at a snail’s pace and there was no sign of the Trial proceeding despite several orders by the Hon’ble Bombay High Court and Supreme Court for expeditious hearing.”
“The victims were beginning to lose hope in the Trial Process, but once Judge Padalkar took charge, he immediately proceeded with the Trial tackling all the tactics of the Accused persons to keep the Trial in abeyance. Judge Sitre continued to expeditiously try the matter in all fairness and objectivity.” the letter pointed out.
