Delhi HC disposes of Kazmi`s plea to transfer case

New Delhi: The Delhi High Court on Wednesday did not give any relief to Syed Mohammad Kazmi, an accused in the Israeli diplomat attack case, on his plea seeking transfer of his case from Patiala House Court to some other district court here.

Disposing of Kazmi`s plea for transfer of the case, a bench of justices Sanjiv Khanna and G P Mittal, however, directed the designated trial court to hear him on the point of framing charges on the next date of hearing. The bench said it is passing the order "to expedite hearing and avoid delay" in the criminal proceedings going on in the court designated to deal with the cases being probed by the Special Cell of Delhi Police. "In order to expedite hearing and to avoid delay and noticing that proceedings for clarification, if any, are fixed on May 29, 2014 before designated court, we feel the writ petition can be disposed of with the direction that counsel for petitioner (Kazmi) be heard by designated court on said date on point of charge," it said. The bench also observed that since the designated court has fixed the case for clarification, it shows that the issue of framing of charges was open and not completely concluded as thought by Kazmi`s counsel. "We have given the aforesaid direction only to quell and put an end to controversy on the aspect of adequate fair hearing," the court said. Kazmi`s counsel, Mehmood Pracha, during the day`s proceeding contended that arguments on framing of charges are pending consideration before the designated court. Pracha also submitted that on May 3 the trial court only heard arguments on Kazmi`s application for discharge and not on the point of framing of charges. The counsel for Centre, Delhi High Court, city government and police disputed the submission saying that as per March 11, 2014 order, last and final opportunity was granted to Kazmi to argue on point of charge. Kazmi, in his plea, had sought transfer of his case from Patiala House court to any other district court.