Nearly 2 years on,trial on Delhi serial blasts case yet to pick pace

This is in stark contrast to the trial of Ajmal Kasab,convicted in the 26/11 Mumbai terror attacks case,which was completed within a year and a half.

Batla encounter
The Delhi Police came under heavy criticism for the Batla House encounter that happened six days after the blasts,in which two suspected IM members — Atif Ameen and Sajid — were shot dead,and police officer Inspector Mohan Chand Sharma died. While many citizens’ groups called for independent judicial inquiry into the incident,the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) gave a clean chit to the Delhi Police in July last year. The chargesheet in the Batla House encounter was filed 17 months later on April 28,2010,against Shahzad aka Pappu,arrested by the Delhi Police from Azamgarh. Shahzad was charged with the murder of Inspector Sharma,firing at policemen and criminal conspiracy.

No charges were levelled against Mohammad Saif,another suspected IM member who was purportedly hiding in the washroom of the L-18 Batla House flat during the encounter.

The 26/11 model
Public prosecutor in the case,Rajeev Mohan,meanwhile,said there’s been no inordinate delay. “In a case where there are more than 200 witnesses,procedural formalities will naturally take time.”

He,however,agrees that a fast-track court,akin to that which conducted the 26/11 trial in Mumbai,will hasten the proceedings,a view echoed by senior lawyer Prashant Bhushan. “The Delhi government can,as per law,set up a fast-track court even now,where a judge can fully involve himself in the case,” Bhushan said.