Kasab’s appeal not ready,lawyers to seek more time

Solkar told Newsline,“The appeal is yet to be finished; we are still studying some legal possibilities that we think can help our client,thus on Monday we would be seeking an adjournment from the court to file the appeal on this ground.”

The defence team was appointed by the Maharashtra State Legal Services Authority after Kasab wrote a letter to the High Court,saying he wanted to file an appeal against the conviction. The lawyers had met Kasab in prison and even had a chat with him on the points he thinks could be included in the appeal. Shah said,“The appeal is complete up to 60 per cent and we are working jointly to finish it and file it at the earliest.”

Kasab was convicted in May for charges of waging war against the country and criminal conspiracy to kill people along with his nine other associates.

Meanwhile,a new judge will hear the case during the next hearing following change in assignments. Of the earlier division bench of Justices Ranjana Desai and VK Tahilaramani,Justice Tahilramani will be replaced by Justice RV More for the next hearing. Justice Desai will continue to hear the case.

Assignments are changed four times a year,when judges are shuffled and cases assigned accordingly. The division bench of Justices Desai and More has now been assigned with civil matters as well as criminal confirmation cases. “The new bench will hear Kasab’s case on Monday,” confirmed additional public prosecutor Shahaji Shinde.