SHILLONG: The High Court of Meghalaya has directed the Judicial Magistrate First Class, East Khasi Hills, to complete the trial of the pending case pertaining to GNLA leader Champion Sangma within a month and asserted that no further extension will be allowed.
Issuing the directive, Justice SR Sen on Friday said that he was not happy with the reasons shown by the Judicial Magistrate First Class for the delay.
Earlier in November, the High Court had directed Judicial Magistrate First Class, East Khasi Hills, to complete the trial within five months.
The court issued this directive after S. Dey, counsel of Champion, prayed for the transfer of the G.R. Case No. 34 (S) 2015 under section 186/506 IPC which is pending before the court of NM. Momin, Judicial Magistrate First Class, Shillong. During the hearing, the counsel, while referring to the last September 21 order, submitted that his client apprehended that this court might deny justice to him. N.D. Chullai, who appeared for the State government, did not oppose the contention of Dey then.
During the hearing on Friday, refusing to grant further extension, Justice Sen said that if necessary, Judicial Magistrate First Class, East Khasi Hills, should go for day-to-day basis trial. A letter wherein the Judicial Magistrate First Class, East Khasi Hills, prayed for extension of time to complete the trial was tabled before the Court on Friday.
The Judge, while referring to the earlier rejection of bail application of Champion by the High Court, said that the lower court should speed up the trial.
“When the bail is rejected on certain grounds the remedy is expeditious trial and the court has to come to a conclusion whether he is guilty or not guilty and to take the decision in accordance with law. It does not mean that the accused person will rot in jail forever”, the Judge observed.
