SUPREME COURT EXPRESSES CONCERN OVER DELAY IN TRIAL OF UAPA CASE OVER ALLEGED ISIS LINKS

The Supreme Court in the case Jamshed Zahoor Paul v. State of NCT of Delhi observed wherein the petition is filed by a 25-year-old Kashmiri man booked under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act over alleged ISIS links.

The Supreme Court in the case observed that steps be needs taken to ensure that the trial is completed expeditiously.

The bench comprising of Justice Surya Kant and Justice Ujjal Bhuyan was hearing the present matter.

In the present case, the petitioner or accused Jamshed Zahoor Paul's challenge to a Delhi High Court judgment dated 24, 2024, whereby he was denied regular bail. Paul was being arrested by the National Investigation Agency, NIA in 2018.

The present matter is handled by Delhi Police Special Cell.

Earlier, the court in the case has issued to the state on the limited point of expedition of trial.

The court asked the counsel, Advocate Zoheb Hossain appearing for the prosecution to file an affidavit detailing how many witnesses were sought to be examined, the pendency of trials before the Presiding Officer, etc.

On the other hand, the counsel, Advocate Nizam Pasha appearing for the Petitioner urged that the trial is going to take time and the petitioner has already spent 6 years in custody.

The bench of Justice Kant clarified, 'This court will have to do something. It can be 6 months or 1 year. Ideally, this trial should be over in 1 year'.