The Supreme Court after receiving all records from the court-appointed commission to probe the alleged encounter killing of four rape accused men in Hyderabad in December 2019 directed that all records be sent to the Telangana High Court which will take a call on the further course of action based on the report and submissions by parties.
On Friday the Supreme Court took on record the report submitted by the court-appointed commission to probe the alleged encounter killing of four rape accused men in Hyderabad in December 2019.
The bench comprising Chief Justice of India (CJI) NV Ramana and Justice Hima Kohli rejected the Telangana State government’s request to keep the report under a sealed cover and passed orders that copies of the report be furnished to all parties to the case.
Subsequently, the court directed that all records be sent to the Telangana High Court which will take a call on the further course of action based on the report and submissions by parties.
“We direct commission to furnish soft copies of the report to both sides and Parties are at liberty to make submissions. High Court to take a call after considering submissions. All records sent to High Court,”.
The supreme court ordered.
Two advocates namely GS Mani and Pradeep Kumar Yadav filed a petition seeking an independent investigation into the alleged fake encounter killing of four men accused of raping and murdering a 26-year-old veterinarian doctor in Hyderabad on 28 November 2019.
The plea was heard by a Bench comprising then CJI SA Bobde which had ordered to set up the inquiry panel after hearing arguments.
The panel comprised former Supreme Court judge, Justice VS Sirpurkar, former Judge of the Bombay High Court, Justice Rekha Baldota and former Director of the Central Bureau of Investigation, DR Karthikeyan.
the panel was headed by The panel comprised former Supreme Court judge, Justice VS Sirpurkar
Additional time was granted to the commission to complete the probe after COVID-19 had hampered its functioning.
When the matter was taken up today, CJI Ramana confirmed that the panel has submitted its report.
The CJI disagreed when Senior Counsel Shyam Divan, appearing for Telangana, requested the Court to keep the report under sealed cover.
“There is nothing confidential. Someone has been found guilty and now State has to look into this,”.
the CJI said
“Please keep the report re-sealed. If it is unsealed it will have impact on administration of justice,”
Divan urged
“What is the point of enquiry if the report is not given (to other side),”
the CJI asked
“It has happened earlier. Justice AK Patnaik had in a case worked on a report and submitted in sealed cover,”
Divan said
“Once report is there it has to be disclosed,”
the CJI maintained
The Court then proceeded to pass an order to that effect.
