Set Up Special Courts For Speedy Trials In Terror & UAPA Cases
The Supreme Court has urged the Centre and states to establish dedicated courts for special law cases. It stressed that speedy trials need proper infrastructure to meet the law’s true purpose.
New Delhi, May 12: The Supreme Court of India has told the Central and State Governments that it is necessary to set up special courts to ensure that cases under special laws are completed quickly.
The top court has also asked both the Centre and the states to give their views on this matter within two weeks.
This direction came while the Supreme Court was hearing the bail application of a man from Gadchiroli in Maharashtra, who is accused of being a Naxal sympathiser.
He was arrested after 15 policemen from the quick response team were killed in a deadly blast in the area.
The case has been filed under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA), which is one of the special laws meant for national security-related matters.
A bench of Justice Surya Kant and Justice N Kotiswar Singh was hearing the matter.
During the proceedings, the Additional Solicitor General of India, representing the government, referred to an affidavit filed by the National Investigation Agency (NIA), which is the second respondent in the case.
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However, the court was not fully satisfied with just the affidavit. The bench said in its official order dated May 9:
“Additional solicitor general of India has referred to the affidavit filed by respondent 2 – National Investigation Agency. We are, however, of the view that when trials are to take place under special laws, it is imperative on the Union or States to establish specialised courts with adequate infrastructure for ensuring speedy trial, for achieving the legislative object of the statute.”
This means the judges believe that simply making tough laws is not enough.
It is equally important that the government sets up proper courts with the required facilities and staff, so that cases are not delayed and justice is delivered on time.
According to the court, only then can the real purpose of the law be fulfilled.
The direction to the Centre and the states to reply within two weeks shows that the court is treating the issue seriously.
The delay in trials under special laws like UAPA has been a concern for a long time, especially when undertrials spend years in jail without conviction or trial.
This decision by the Supreme Court could lead to changes in how cases under anti-terror or national security laws are handled across the country.
If the Centre and the states act on the court’s advice, we may soon see more special courts being set up with better infrastructure and staff to handle such sensitive cases.
This move is expected to speed up justice in important cases and reduce the burden on regular courts, while also upholding the purpose of laws like UAPA, which are meant to protect national security and public order.
