2008 Malegaon Blast Case: Victim’s Lawyer Urges HC to Extend NIA Judge’s Tenure | File Photo
Mumbai: The lawyer of the victim of 2008 Malegaon blast has written to the Chief Justice of the Bombay High Court seeking extension of the tenure of the special NIA judge, who is currently hearing the final arguments from the accused in the case.
Advocate Shahid Nadeem in his letter has expressed his apprehension that the tenure of the present judge AK Lahoti is about to end and may be transferred during annual general transfers. This, he claimed, would adversely affect the victims who have been waiting for years for the conclusion of the trial.
Nadeem has said that a special judge is posted at a particular court for a period of three years, after which the judge is transferred to another court or district. Likewise, special judge Lohati came to be appointed as special judge to conduct the trial of 2008 Malegaon blast case in June 2022. With this his tenure may end this year.
The special court is presently hearing final arguments from the accused and so far, 6 out of 7 accused have concluded their arguments. After all the defence lawyers conclude the arguments, the prosecution would be given an opportunity to rebut any issues raised in defence and later defence would be given the last chance to conclude.
With this the victim apprehend that the transfer would hamper the case. “Any change in the Presiding Officer may cause an unavoidable delay in the trial as the newly posted Presiding Officer would require to familiarize himself with the entire voluminous chargesheet along with exhibited documents and evidence which is running into thousands of pages,” reads the letter.
