Supreme Court grants bail due to trial delays under Terrorist Act

The Supreme Court allowed the appeal and directed the release of the appellant on bail due to delays in trial proceedings under the Terrorist and Disruptive Activities (Prevention) Act, 1987. The Court emphasized the importance of timely trials and criticized the prosecution for failing to produce evidence and provide updates promptly.

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Issues involved: Bail application u/s Terrorist and Disruptive Activities (Prevention) Act, 1987 due to delay in trial proceedings.

Summary:
The appellant, being prosecuted under the Terrorist and Disruptive Activities (Prevention) Act, 1987, had been in jail since May 1992 while his co-accused was granted bail in August 1992. Despite the appellant's previous bail application being denied by the Supreme Court in 1997 with the condition to reapply if trial delays persisted, the trial remained inconclusive by May 1998. The prosecution failed to produce evidence on scheduled trial dates in May and June 1998, leading to further delays. Subsequent requests for trial updates were unmet by the Delhi Administration, resulting in the Supreme Court granting bail to the appellant under the direction of the Designated Judge, Patiala House, New Delhi.

The Supreme Court allowed the appeal and directed the release of the appellant on bail, emphasizing the necessity for timely trial proceedings and the failure of the prosecution to provide necessary updates and evidence in a timely manner.

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