Indian top court asks IIOJK HC to ensure proper video-conferencing facilities for Yasin Malik trial
New Delhi: Indian Supreme Court on Monday directed the registrar generals of Indian illegally occupied Jammu and Kashmir High Court and the Delhi High Court to ensure proper video-conferencing (VC) facilities for the ongoing trial of the jailed Jammu and Kashmir Liberation Front Chairman, Muhammad Yasin Malik.
According to Kashmir Media Service, a bench comprising Justices Abhay S Oka and Ujjal Bhuyan issued the directives while addressing issues raised by a Jammu special court regarding malfunctioning VC systems during hearings. The bench emphasized the need for a reliable system to facilitate effective cross-examination, especially for Malik, who is currently lodged in Tihar jail in a a fabricated financing case.
The bench instructed the IIOJK High Court registrar general to address the concerns raised by the Jammu special court judge and install a proper VC system, with a status report to be submitted by February 18. Similarly, the Delhi High Court’s IT registrar has been tasked with assessing the VC facilities at Tihar jail and ensuring they meet trial requirements.
The case pertains to two the December 1989 abduction of Rubaiya Sayeed, and the January 1990 killing of four Indian Air Force personnel in Srinagar.
During the hearing, the bench acknowledged arguments from the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) seeking to transfer the trial to New Delhi.
Defense counsel opposed the transfer, highlighting health conditions of and argued for the trial to continue in Jammu with Malik participating via VC.
The Supreme Court suggested setting up a special court at Tihar jail to expedite the trial. Malik, serving a life sentence in a so-called funding case in 2023.
The Indian Supreme Court has scheduled the next hearing on February 21, after the submission of status reports by the respective high courts.