Judicial delay: SC stays trial proceedings against UP police officer as no prosecution witness examined in last 35 years

Parmod KumarNew Delhi, April 23 -- The Supreme Court has stayed proceedings against a Uttar Pradesh police officer - accused of rioting, causing hurt and breach of peace - noting that not a single prosecution witness has been examined in the last 35 years in the case registered way back in 1989 at Prayagraj.

Issuing notice to the Uttar Pradesh government and staying further proceedings, a Bench of Justice J.B. Pardiwala and Justice Vijay Bishnoi on Monday, April 20, said, "In the facts and circumstances of this case and more particularly, having regard to the fact that almost 35 years have lapsed, we are inclined to quash the proceedings on this ground alone."However, the Court chose to hear the Uttar Pradesh government before passing any ...