SC Pushes for More Special Courts to Expedite UAPA and NDPS Trials

NEW DELHI: To address the grievance of accused facing long years of incarceration in UAPA and NDPS cases, SC Monday pushed for the establishment of additional exclusive special courts to speed up trials in NIA-investigated cases and those related to narcotic drugs registered by various police organisations. Additional solicitor general Aishwarya Bhati informed a bench of CJI Surya Kant and Justices Joymalya Bagchi and V Mohana that 14 additional exclusive NIA special courts have been designated in nine states following a series of SC orders and reminders by the Centre. The courts include three each in Gujarat and Jharkhand, two in Maharashtra and one each in J&K, Bihar, Chhattisgarh, Manipur, Assam and Punjab. The bench, however, expressed concern over only one NIA court in J&K handling 47 cases and asked the Union govt to consider establishing more special courts for expeditious completion of trials. Delhi is also in the process of designating three exclusive NIA courts to speed up hearings in 50 pending cases. On NDPS cases, the Centre informed the court that exclusive special courts across the country have increased from 77 to 113, but 394 are required based on inputs from states and UTs. West Bengal and Haryana accounted for 13 each among the 36 newly added courts. Govt said states and UTs have committed to establishing the remaining NDPS courts expeditiously in coordination with high courts. It added that infrastructure needs would be met through existing central schemes for judicial infrastructure to avoid duplication of financial assistance.