PTI, NEW DELHI: A city court on Wednesday asked the Delhi government to expedite the process of granting requisite sanction to prosecute former JNU Students Union President Kanhaiya Kumar and others in a 2016 sedition case, saying it can’t sit on the file indefinitely.
Chief Metropolitan Magistrate Deepak Sherawat said that precious time of the court is being wasted as the decision with respect to the grant of sanction to prosecute hangs fire and gave the Delhi Police three weeks to get the permission needed to prosecute Kumar and other accused, including former Jawaharlal Nehru University students Umar Khalid and Anirban Bhattacharya, in the case.
“Authorities can’t sit on the file for indefinite period,” the judge observed.
The court posted the matter for February 28 after the Delhi Police sought more time to get the sanctions, saying the documents were pending with Delhi government and were expected in a matter of days.
“The IO (investigating officer) has stated that so far sanction has not been granted…and the matter is pending with concerned department. IO has filed the present charge sheet for offence under section 124-A (sedition) IPC, without first obtaining the requisite sanction…and now adjournment is being sought on the grounds that process relating to obtaining of sanction is underway.
“The precious time of the court is being wasted as the decision with respect to the grant of sanction hangs fire. After filing of the charge sheet, no department can sit on the file with regard to sanction. The department concerned would do well to speed up the matter regarding the sanction,” the court said.
It had during an earlier hearing questioned Delhi Police for filing a charge sheet against Kumar and others without procuring the sanctions.
