'Shame': Trial against accused of acid attack pending before court for 16 yrs

STUNNED to learn from an acid attack survivor that the trial against her accused has been pending for 16 years, the Supreme Court described the situation as “a national shame” that makes “a mockery of the system.” The Court directed all High Courts to furnish details of pending acid attack cases within four weeks.

- SUCHITRA KALYAN MOHANTY

“If the national capital cannot handle such a situation, then who will? This is such a shame! This (the delay in criminal trial) is a mockery of the system,” remarked a two-judge bench of the apex court headed by Chief Justice Surya Kant and Justice Joymalya Bagchi on Thursday.