SALEM: J udgment in the Dharmapuri bus burning case, which has been on trial at the First Additional District Sessions Court here since March 21, 2005, will be delivered on February 15, six years after the incident.

Judge D. Krishnaraja heard the final arguments on Monday.

All 30 of the 31 accused, (one died during the trial), were present. Three girl students of Tamil Nadu Agricultural University (TNAU) were burnt alive on February 2, 2000, when miscreants torched their college bus near Ilakkiampatti in Dharmapuri following the conviction of AIADMK leader Jayalalithaa in the Kodaikanal Pleasant Stay Hotel case.

The case assumed significance when the Madras High Court suspended its trial at the Krishnagiri court and transferred it to the Salem Sessions court on September 19, 2003. Justice V. Kanagaraj, while passing orders on the petition filed by N.P. Veerasamy, father of Kokilavani, one of the victims, seeking transfer of the case from the Krishnagiri court, had described the trial there as "colossal failure and eyewash."

All the witnesses had turned hostile, which he said, was "disgraceful." He appointed R. Srinivasan as the Special Public Prosecutor and ordered fresh proceedings.

The then government took nearly 15 months to issue the gazette notification on the SPP's appointment, virtually rendering the trial court in Salem non-functional.

The High Court had to intervene to make the government notify his appointment. When the trial started, it was further delayed due to non-availability of documents from the Krishnagiri court.

The case examined 123 prosecution witnesses and two court witnesses, including the then Vice-Chancellor of TNAU and the Dharmapuri Collector.

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