Jammu, June 1 :
The Supreme Court has lauded the efforts of a Jammu trial court for ensuring expeditious recording of evidence in a high-profile murder case linked to an alleged land-grabbing dispute in the Greater Kailash (Chowadi) area of Jammu.
The case pertains to the death of Avtar Singh, who allegedly succumbed to injuries sustained during a violent clash on April 30, 2024. Following the incident, a criminal case was registered under Sections 302, 307, 120-B and other provisions of the Indian Penal Code.
A Bench comprising Justices Dipankar Datta and Satish Chandra Sharma recorded its appreciation for the work of 2nd Additional Sessions Judge Jammu, Anoop Kumar Sharma, while hearing a batch of appeals challenging the rejection of bail pleas of six accused persons by the Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh High Court.
“At the outset, we record our appreciation for the learned Sessions Judge who has painstakingly ensured recording of the evidence of all the eyewitnesses,” the apex court observed in its order issued on June 1, 2026.
The Supreme Court noted that the prosecution has cited 44 witnesses in the case. Concerned about delays in the trial, the Court had earlier directed the trial court on January 16, 2026, to fix two consecutive dates every week for recording the testimony of eyewitnesses.
The Bench had also made it clear that consideration of bail applications would depend on the progress achieved in the examination and cross-examination of key eyewitnesses.
During subsequent hearings, the Supreme Court repeatedly emphasized the need for a speedy trial and, on April 6, 2026, directed the trial court to complete the cross-examination of eyewitnesses as early as possible, preferably by May 25, 2026.
When the matter came up again, the Court was informed that evidence of five out of six eyewitnesses had been fully recorded, while the sixth witness had been dropped from the prosecution list. Taking note of the substantial progress, the Bench acknowledged the diligence of the trial court in advancing the proceedings.
The Supreme Court granted bail to two elderly accused, Sheikh Mehmood and Ravinder Kumar Gupta, while rejecting the bail pleas of four other accused persons.
At the same time, the Bench directed the trial court to continue expediting the proceedings and encouraged the Sessions Judge to suitably reschedule witness examinations wherever necessary to ensure completion of evidence of all prosecution witnesses by the end of March 2027.
The apex court clarified that the observations made in its order were limited to the issue of bail and would not have any bearing on the final adjudication of the criminal case pending before the trial court. (KNC)