Delhi riots case: Judge who heard arguments on charge transferred back to Shahdara court

Days after the Delhi High Court, in a routine reshuffle, transferred the judge who had substantially heard arguments on charges against those accused in the Delhi riots conspiracy case, the judicial officer, Sameer Bajpai has been brought back to his earlier posting. .The earlier transfer, dated May 30, had meant that Additional Sessions Judge (ASJ) Lalit Kumar, who had replaced ASJ Bajpai, would have to hear arguments afresh on the charges against the accused, most of whom have been in prison for years without bail.However, by an order passed on June 18, Wednesday, the High Court ordered that ASJ Bajpai will return to his previous court in Shahdara from his existing court in South-East, Saket. Judge Kumar will take Judge Bajpai's place in the Saket Court. The development is likely to come as a relief for the accused, whose trial would have again been delayed if the matter had to be heard afresh. .The arguments on charge in the case had started in September last year before Judge Bajpai. The Special Public Prosecutor (SPP) representing the Delhi Police and the counsel appearing for the five accused had concluded their contentions before him. Following the earlier transfer, Judge Lalit Kumar had been apprised of the same. The judge had said that he would expedite the case."This court consider it fit that a considerable time have already been lapsed and therefore, arguments on the point of charge has to be expedited," ASJ Kumar had said in the order passed on June 2. On June -6, the prosecution informed the Court that it will take at least five days, on average five hours per day, to conclude arguments. Similarly, accused Tahir Hussain's counsel said an average of three hours on five dates would be needed to finish arguments. Accused Khalid Saifi's counsel sought four hours to complete the arguments."Ld. Special Public Prosecutors and Ld. Counsels for the accused persons submit that since the charge-sheet contains more than 17,000/- pages, it would take a considertable time, therefore requested to start the arguments on charge after summer vacation so that the continuity of the arguments which will be started by the prosecution and followed by the arguments of the counsels for the accused persons, may not be disturbed," the Court recorded in the order passed that day.The matter was then adjourned to July 2..The accused in the case are Umar Khalid, Sharjeel Imam, Safoora Zargar, Natasha Narwal, Asif Iqbal Tanha, Tahir Hussain, Khalid Saifi, Isharat Jahan, Meeran Haider, Gulfisha Fatima, Shifa-Ur-Rehman, Shadab Ahmed, Tasleem Ahmed, Saleem Malik, Mohd Saleem Khan, Athar Khan and Faizan Khan.The Delhi Police has invoked stringent provisions of the Unlawful Activities Prevention Act (UAPA) against the accused. Most of the accused have been in jail for more than five years..[Read latest transfer order]