Sunday Times 2
Wrap up Jayalalithaa case in 3 months: SC
Paving the way for a speedy hearing of former Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Jayalalithaa’s appeal on her conviction in the disproportionate assets case, the Supreme Court asked the Karnataka High Court Chief Justice on Thursday to constitute a Special Bench to hear the case “exclusively” on a day-to-day basis and complete it in three months.
Jayalalithaa
The apex court extended the bail of Jayalalithaa and the three other accused in the case – V.K. Sasikala, J. Ilavarasi and V.N. Sudhakaran – till April 18, 2015.
Chief Justice of India H.L. Dattu requested the Chief Justice of the Karnataka High Court to constitute a Special Bench, “keeping in view the peculiar circumstances” of the case, to hear exclusively the four criminal appeals in the assets case on a day-to-day basis, complete the proceedings and pronounce the judgment in three months from Thursday.
The time frame was set after Tulsi said he would require at least 30 working days to complete his arguments. The three months’ time was fixed on the consideration that the High Court might require at least a month after the arguments conclude to deliver the judgment.
Chief Justice Dattu orally observed that in case the appeal proceedings were not completed in three months, the apex court could be duly informed and an extension of 15 days considered.
Appearing in the court, BJP leader Subramanian Swamy, the original complainant in the criminal case, said he had not been given a copy of the appeal papers.
Chief Justice Dattu said Jayalalithaa’s side should keep its assurance made on October 17. Tulsi then promised the court that copies of the 173-volume appeal papers would be sent to Dr. Swamy within two days.
Courtesy The Hindu