Proceedings not to be uploaded on Internet: Court

Ravi Dhaliwal

Tribune News Service

Pathankot, June 6

District and Sessions Judge Dr Tejwinder Singh on Wednesday ordered that the proceedings in the ongoing Kathua rape and murder case would not be uploaded on the Internet from Thursday.

J&K Government’s special public prosecutor Santokh Singh Basra said the judge passed the orders on a plea by a Jammu-based advocate of the accused. He said the proceedings should not be uploaded as it was an in-camera trial. The court is holding in-camera proceedings on the directions of the Supreme Court. The trial should be held in camera so that witnesses feel protected and the accused feel safe, read the instructions of the apex court.

Advocates say in legal parlance in-camera proceedings are a process where the public and press are not allowed to observe the procedure. It is the opposite of trial in the open court where parties and witnesses testify in the court in the presence of their lawyers.

In another development, the defence counsels of all seven accused concluded their arguments on Wednesday. Basra and JK Chopra from the prosecution’s side had finished their arguments a few days ago. The judge will pronounce his orders on Thursday.

Meanwhile, the Pathankot Police have not downgraded the security arrangements in and around the court. A Punjab Police vehicle continues to escort the J&K Police bus as it reaches Madhopur in Pathankot district from the Kathua jail.