HC rejects Nirmal Yadav’s plea for stay

Convinced that Justice (retd) Nirmal Yadav will “not be prejudiced” if the special CBI Court frames charges against her,the Punjab and Haryana High Court Friday refused to stay trial in the infamous ‘cash-at judges-door’ trial.

Dismissing an application filed by Yadav seeking stay on the trial,Justice N K Sanghi ruled on Friday that “formal framing of charges” by the CBI court is “merely a formality”. The HC also turned down Yadav’s request to grant two weeks time to challenge the order in Supreme Court. The court has asked Yadav to put this request before the special CBI court.

As already ordered by the special CBI Judge Vimal Kumar,all the accused,including Justice Yadav,have to remain present in CBI court on November 26 for framing of charges. In a significant observation,Justice Sanghi remarked “unfortunately,the trial court has not framed charges on the same day. Generally charges are framed the same day”. He said he had “already considered” the issue of staying the trial when he had admitted a revision petition by Justice Yadav.

Demanding that the trial be stayed,Yadav’s lawyer S K Garg, argued that Yadav has been made a “scapegoat”.