SC agrees to examine CBI plea to transfer Yasin Malik’s trial from Jammu
Hindustan TimesThe Supreme Court on Thursday agreed to examine the Central Bureau of Investigation’s plea to transfer the trial of Yasin Malik, a terror convict and former Jammu & Kashmir Liberation Front chief, from a Jammu court to Delhi. Solicitor general Tushar Mehta and advocate Rajat Nair, representing CBI, brought on record the agency’s application in the light of a Jammu court order mandating Malik’s physical presence for trial proceedings. The CBI’s application cited substantial risks in transporting Malik to Jammu for trial proceedings, underlining his connections with international terror networks and describing him as “a national threat who headed a terror group and was instrumental in initiating terror activities.” The plea highlighted that Malik had shared stages with figures such as Hafiz Saeed, a designated global terrorist, during his visits to Pakistan. “The present application is being filed to bring on record certain facts with respect to the stage of trial in the present cases, antecedents of Respondent no 1 and the facilities in Central Jail, Tihar for conducting court proceedings in the jail premises and to seek appropriate directions from this Hon’ble Court to the effect that the trial in abovesaid two cases be shifted in New Delhi, to be conducted in Central Jail, Tihar, where respondent no 1 is presently lodged,” said the plea. The Supreme Court on November 21 acknowledged the gravity of the cases involving Malik when it proposed setting up a makeshift courtroom within Tihar Jail to facilitate the trial proceedings in the two cases.