Absence of SPPs appearing for state in Delhi riots case causing delays: Delhi Court

Additional Sessions Judge Virender Bhat of a Delhi Court on Friday expressed concern over the absence of Special Public Prosecutors (SPPs) appearing for the state in the Delhi riots case. The judge noted that though two prosecution witnesses are present in the case, they cannot be examined in the absence of Special Public Prosecutor Amit Prasad. Though all accused were produced from judicial custody, no SPPs were present before the court.

SPP Prasad had informed the court of his engagement with some matter in the high court. DK Bhatia, another SPP, was called but also expressed inability to appear in the case. Thereafter, another SPP, Madhukar Pandey, was called upon, but he too did not appear.

The court observed that this is the state of affairs with regards to these riot cases, which are very sensitive in nature and for which this special court was set up.

These cases were assigned to a panel of SPPs formed by the police so as to ensure proper and effective prosecution of these cases. But this court has found in several cases, the SPPs are not appearing in the court due to which cases have to be adjourned without conducting any proceeding and resulting in delays, it said.

Matters are being unnecessarily adjourned, and the accused's jail time being prolonged for no fault of theirs, said the defence counsel while objecting to the conduct of special PPs. The judge had communicated this to the DCP North East Delhi earlier and sent a copy of the order to appoint SPPs to represent the state. He also sought a report within a week.