NEW DELHE: The Chief Metropolitan magistrate S.L. Khanna, today granted permission to the accused of the Indira Gandhi assassination Case to apply for admission in the correspondence course to study law.
Rejecting the plea of the state, Khanna observed that the accused Dalip Singh and Jagmohan Singh may be allowed to apply for admission under conditions that they shall not be allowed to attend classes. The issue regarding their taking part in examination will be considered when the situation arises, he said.
Counsel for the accused while pleading minister for admission in the law course had argued that if the son of a Prime Minister could be allowed adequate security to attend college, her clients should not be treated with exception.
The state in this regard maintained that the accused should never be allowed to take admission in the said course because of security risk.
The CMM also ordered the jail officials to provide them things of daily use, like pen, pencil papers, newspapers, watch, radio, and mosquito nets. He expressed his displeasure against the jail officials who have always said such items can cause security risk . “You have never stated how a mosquito net can risk the security.” He asked the jail superintendent.
Mann remained absent today for he could not be brought from Bhagalpur jail where he is lodged at present, in time. Counsel for Mann, P.N. Lekhi asked the court to explain why his client was “deliberately being kept away from appearing before the court thereby delaying the proceedings.”
He even went to the extent of accusing the CMM when he said “I am accusing you of playing a role in this drama of the government, You have made a mockery of the proceeding. The government can everybody but not the Judiciary at least.
He alleged that the government was trying to get a political mileage by keeping the issue of Mrs. Gandhi murder alive in the mind of the people.
Article extracted from this publication >> July 14, 1989
