COIMBATORE: K. Uthirapathy, judge of the Special Court for Bomb Blast Cases, on Wednesday said the pronouncement of sentences in the serial blasts case would begin on Friday.
On Wednesday, the court heard a petition filed by the third accused, Tajudeen, through counsel S.K. Raghavan. Special Public Prosecutor T.A. Selvaraj on Tuesday filed a counter, saying there was no provision in the Criminal Procedure Code either for allowing the defence to peruse the findings of the court in respect of the charges or for providing them with a copy of the synopsis.
Mr. Raghavan, along with R. Gopalan, citing section 353 (1), (C) of the Cr.PC, said the judgment should be pronounced by reading out its operative part and explaining its substance. He also relied on Section 354 of the Cr.PC which said the judgment shall contain the point, or points, for determination, the decision thereon and the reasons for the decision. He also relied on the rulings of the Supreme Court in other cases.
Special Public Prosecutor T. Balasundaram and Mr. Selvaraj on Wednesday said the process of delivering the judgment had just begun and was not complete. At this juncture, the defence plea for a copy of the synopsis or permission for perusing the judgment (excluding sentences) was not legally sustainable.
As per the principles of natural justice, all the accused and their counsel were given ample opportunity to explain their case and circumstances, Mr. Selvaraj said. Later in the day, the judge ordered dismissal of the petitions stating that they were not sustainable.
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