In Sessions

Although the court is off for a month up to June 8, the sessions court will thrash out criminal matters from May 8 to 22, as many pending criminal cases have to be cleared, said a disgruntled employee. 8220;We do not mind working during the holidays. But the work timings have to be decided under the guidelines of the vacation department8221;, he added. As per the Bombay City Civil and Sessions Court rules, 1948, the timings during the vacations are between 11.00 am and 3.45 pm. But the circular has directed all employees to work between 10.30 am and 5.30 pm.

A gate meeting was held on Friday at the court premises, after which a section of employees met Registrar V B Karandikar, who reportedly told them that the matter was entirely in the hands of principalsessions judge A S Aguiar, who was on leave. Another agitated employee said many employees tried to call on the principal judge to discuss the issue, but he reportedly refused to entertain their application or even meet them.

8220;This has been going on for the past three years and we have always been deprived of our vacation,8221; a court clerk said. Another employee felt that their labour should be compensated, either in the form of extra wages or privilege leave. 8220;If this issue is not settled amicably, employees will work only from 11.00 am to 3.45 pm during the vacations,8221; he added.

Three fishermen acquitted n THREE fishermen accused of murdering a fellow fisherman in 1983 were acquitted last week by additional sessions judge P S Gupta due to non-availability of the key eyewitness.

According to police, early on November 21, 1983, fishermen on two fishing boats got into a fight over right of way in the seas near Vasai creek.

Goving Wagne was at the sail of Padmavati8217; accompanied by BhalchandraBhagat, Krishna Koli, Manohar Koli and Dharma Tole while Maruti Koli was at the helm of l Kanyakumari8217; with his brother Balaram, Gajanan Patil and Tukaram Patil.

Maruti dashed his boat against Padmavati8217;, sprang onto its board and assaulted Govind Wagne with bamboo for failing to give space to overtake. Govind8217;s colleagues who came to his help were also hit.

While Govind later succumbed to injuries in the hospital, his colleagues were discharged after first aid. A murder case was registered at the Malvani police station and the accused were arrested. The case came up for hearing only court this month after repeated adjournment due to non-availability of the witnesses. In the meantime the main accused Maruti Koli died in jail.

The judge said that since the case is very old with both the complainant and the main accused already dead and since the eye-witnesses, the other fishermen, were not traceable, the remaining accused Balram Koli, Gajanan Patil and Tukaram Patil were acquitted.