India, Jan. 23 -- The Supreme Court has directed a trial court in Maharashtra to take time-bound steps to frame charges in the Elgar Parishad-linked Surjagarh arson case against lawyer-activist Surendra Gadling, who has been in custody for nearly seven years without trial.

The order was passed on January 21. A copy of the order was uploaded on Friday.

Gadling is the only Elgar Parishad accused still incarcerated without bail after the Bombay high court on Friday granted bail to two more accused in the Elgar Parishad case.

A bench of justices JK Maheshwari and Vijay Bishnoi took note of the prolonged delay in adjudicating Gadling's bail plea and directed the high court's registrar general to ensure that a regular presiding judge is post...