BOOM

Trending Searches

    SUPPORT
    BOOM

    Trending News

      • Fact Check 
        • Fast Check
        • Politics
        • Business
        • Entertainment
        • Social
        • Sports
        • World
      • Law
      • Explainers
      • News 
        • All News
      • Decode 
        • Impact
        • Scamcheck
        • Life
        • Voices
      • Media Buddhi 
        • Digital Buddhi
        • Senior Citizens
        • Videos
      • Web Stories
      • BOOM Research
      • BOOM Labs
      • Deepfake Tracker
      • Videos 
        • Facts Neeti
      • Home-icon
        Home
      • About Us-icon
        About Us
      • Authors-icon
        Authors
      • Team-icon
        Team
      • Careers-icon
        Careers
      • Internship-icon
        Internship
      • Contact Us-icon
        Contact Us
      • Methodology-icon
        Methodology
      • Correction Policy-icon
        Correction Policy
      • Non-Partnership Policy-icon
        Non-Partnership Policy
      • Cookie Policy-icon
        Cookie Policy
      • Grievance Redressal-icon
        Grievance Redressal
      • Republishing Guidelines-icon
        Republishing Guidelines
      • Fact Check-icon
        Fact Check
        Fast Check
        Politics
        Business
        Entertainment
        Social
        Sports
        World
      • Law-icon
        Law
      • Explainers-icon
        Explainers
      • News-icon
        News
        All News
      • Decode-icon
        Decode
        Impact
        Scamcheck
        Life
        Voices
      • Media Buddhi-icon
        Media Buddhi
        Digital Buddhi
        Senior Citizens
        Videos
      • Web Stories-icon
        Web Stories
      • BOOM Research-icon
        BOOM Research
      • BOOM Labs-icon
        BOOM Labs
      • Deepfake Tracker-icon
        Deepfake Tracker
      • Videos-icon
        Videos
        Facts Neeti
      Trending Tags
      TRENDING
      • #Operation Sindoor
      • #Pahalgam Terror Attack
      • #Narendra Modi
      • #Rahul Gandhi
      • #Waqf Amendment Bill
      • #Arvind Kejriwal
      • #Deepfake
      • #Artificial Intelligence
      • Home
      • Law
      • Supreme Court Suspends Bombay High...
      Law

      Supreme Court Suspends Bombay High Court Verdict Acquitting GN Saibaba

      Maharashtra government moved SC against the Bombay HC order hours after it acquitted ex-DU professor GN Saibaba.

      By - Ritika Jain |
      Published -  15 Oct 2022 1:37 PM IST
    • Boomlive
      Listen to this Article
      Supreme Court Suspends Bombay High Court Verdict Acquitting GN Saibaba

      The Supreme Court on Saturday suspended the Bombay High Court order acquitting ex-Delhi University Professor GN Saibaba in the case pertaining to his alleged Maoist links. The high court failed to consider the case on merits and discharged the accused only on the issue of an invalid sanction, the Supreme Court observed.

      This means GN Saibaba continues to remain in custody. However, he is permitted to file a fresh bail appeal.

      The high court order was required to be considered in detail, but it discharged the accused only on the ground that the sanction was invalid, the special bench observed. Considering the seriousness and the gravity of the offense this is a fit case for the suspension of the sentence, the top court observed.

      Supreme Court also denied Saibaba's plea for house arrest on medical grounds as opposed to being kept in jail. "There is a recent tendency from 'urban naxals' to seek house arrests. But everything can be done from within the home for them, even by phone. Please say that house arrest can never be an option," said Solicitor General Tushar Mehta arguing against this plea.

      The top court's order came on an urgent appeal filed by Maharashtra government hours after the Nagpur bench of the Bombay high court pronounced its order acquitting Saibaba. Justices MR Shah and Bela Trivedi sat in a special hearing on Saturday to hear the matter.

      The Nagpur Bench of the Bombay High Court on Friday held the proceedings in the 2017 trial convicting Saibaba null and void in the absence of a valid sanction under the provisions of the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, 1967 prior to the commencement of the trial.

      The life term awarded to Saibaba was also set aside.

      Also Read:Explained: GN Saibaba's Case And What Bombay HC Said While Acquitting Him

      Acquittal on technicality, Merits of the case not decided: SC

      The special bench comprising Justice MR Shah and Bela Trivedi observed that the high court took a "virtual shortcut" by deciding the case on a technicality alone, and not considering the case on its merits.

      Justice Trivedi pointed out that in accordance with the law, an appellate court (high court) can acquit an individual only after reversing the findings of the trial court. The bench said since the high court did not decide on the merits of the case, it would need to consider several important questions of law that arise in this present appeal.

      "In a case where the trial court has convicted accused on basis of material and appreciation of evidence, is the appellate court justified in discharging accused on the ground of sanction.... since the ground of no sanction was raised during trial and trial moved on as is?" the bench said.

      Also Read:Bombay High Court Acquits GN Saibaba

      Issue of irregular sanction not raised during the trial: Maharashtra to SC

      Solicitor General Tushar Mehta admitted before the Supreme Court that the sanction to prosecute GN Saibaba in accordance with the UAPA came late. However, when he had the opportunity, Saibaba did not raise this issue of the irregular sanction during trial proceedings before the sessions court.

      "That was the first opportunity to raise the ground of sanction. He waived," Mehta added.

      Mehta argued that the purpose of taking sanction was to ensure that a person is not put through a "vexatious trial". "However, this is not a vexatious trial," he argued adding that the accused was found guilty after a full-fledged trial.

      Also Read:Two Possible Ends: Professor GN Saibaba's Story

      Issue of Sanction raised during cross-examination: GN Saibaba to SC

      During the special hearing on Saturday, senior advocate R Basant argued against the suspension of the judgment and a plea to remand GN Saibaba under house arrest on medical grounds.

      Justice Shah asked if Saibaba raised any specific, independent objection regarding sanction during trial, "Yes, or No? A simple question."

      Basant responded: "No application was made. But at the stage of cross-examination, this plea was raised." Basant argued that during the appeal before the high court, Saibaba had argued on all points but the high court focused on the issue of sanction alone.

      To this, Justice Shah said, "We are not finding fault with you (Saibaba), we are finding fault with the high court for not entering in the merits of the case…You may have argued everything, but can the benefit of the mistake committed by the high court be given to the accused?"

      Basant then argued that the state has accused Saibaba of being a mastermind. Though there is nothing to prove the same, he submitted. At this, Justice Shah orally observed that "so far as terrorist or Maoist activities are concerned, the brain is more dangerous. Direct involvement is not necessary."

      "I am generally observing, not with respect to this specific case," Justice Shah clarified.

      Pressing for house arrest, Basant said Saibaba had no criminal antecedents and he was leading a respectable life though he may be "ideologically inclined". He further drew the court's attention to Saibaba's physical disability to urge against the suspension of the order.

      "He is disabled to 90 percent. Paraplegic. He has multiple other ailments which are judicially accepted. He is confined to his wheelchair," Basant had said.


      Tags

      Bombay High CourtSupreme Court Of India
      Read Full Article
      Next Story
      Our website is made possible by displaying online advertisements to our visitors.
      Please consider supporting us by disabling your ad blocker. Please reload after ad blocker is disabled.
      X

      Subscribe to BOOM Newsletters

      👉 No spam, no paywall — but verified insights.

      Please enter a Email Address
      Subscribe for free!

      Stay Ahead of Misinformation!

      Please enter a Email Address
      Subscribe Now🛡️ 100% Privacy Protected | No Spam, Just Facts
      By subscribing, you agree with the Terms & conditions and Privacy Policy connected to the offer

      Thank you for subscribing!

      You’re now part of the BOOM community.

      Or, Subscribe to receive latest news via email
      Subscribed Successfully...
      Copy HTMLHTML is copied!
      There's no data to copy!