Hyderabad Encounter: SC Grants 6 Months Extension for Probe Report Citing COVID-19.
By: – S.A.Anjum Sadiq
The Enquiry Commission, constituted on SC orders, had sought six more months to complete the probe in the killing of four rape-murder accused in Hyderabad filed an Application seeking more time to wrap up the investigation in the light of the COVID-19.
A Supreme Court bench headed by Chief Justice of India SA Bobde has reportedly granted the inquiry Commission’s plea seeking six more months to complete the probe into the alleged encounter of the four persons last December.
The Supreme Court by order on 12-12-2019 had constituted an inquiry Commission for inquiring into the circumstances in which the four accused persons were killed in Hyderabad on 6th December 2019.the Commission headed by Mr Justice V.S.Sirpurkar (Retd) former Supreme Court Judge as chairman and shall comprise of Ms. R.P Sondurbaldota, a former Judge of the Bombay High Court and Mr D.R kaathikeyan, former Director of CI as its members.
The Application states that Inquiry Commission was supposed to sit for hearings on 23-3-2020 and 24-4-2020 at Hyderabad. However, due to the prevailing pandemic situation and the janata curfew notified by the Government of India, the Inquiry Commission was constrained to suspend the sittings.
The Application filed by Advocate K Parameshwar further states that the Government of India had extended the lock down period from time to time, severely effecting the inter-state movement and the working premises allocated to the Commission were found to be COVID Positive. There are no other premises available for the commission to hold hearings. Travel between states is still not feasible because of the increasing rates of infections. Even though the allocated work of Commission is continues to be there for earlier completion.
The proceedings in accordance with the Terms of reference will be completed soon. The Inquiry Commission is constrained to apply to this Court for an extension of time of six months from the date he commission is able to function with physical hearings, spot inspections etc.
In the light of the circumstances the Application prays for an extension of six months for submission of its final report.
