9 Yrs In Jail As Under-Trial, 179 Hearings; Why No Progress In The Case: SC Asks Trial Court [Read Order]

While hearing the writ plea of some under-trial prisoners who have been in custody for over nine years, the Supreme Court has directed the district and sessions judge concerned to ascertain reasons why 179 hearings took place in the matter without any substantive progress, and to send a report to this court.

Justice Madan B Lokur and Justice Deepak Gupta noted the allegation that 179 hearings took place in the matter and directed the trial court judge to look into the matter on an ‘urgent and priority basis’.

Hazi Izlal, Afzal and Devendra Ahuja were arrested on May 27, 2008, for the murder of three students of Meerut College — Sudhir Ujjawal, Sunil Dhaka and Punit Giri. It is alleged that Izlal allegedly beheaded them, gouged out their eyes and shot them in the head. Their bodies were thrown into Hindon river at Baleni in Baghpat district of Uttar Pradesh.

In June 2013, a controversy erupted when Hazi Izlal was reportedly escorted out of a Meerut jail by two policemen on the pretext of producing him in court and taken to a lawyer's chamber to be with his wife.

In May 2014, the apex court had upheld the conviction of Uttar Pradesh lawyer Bal Kishan Giri for contempt of court for his “wild and scandalous” accusations against judges of the Allahabad High Court and several other judicial officers. The said advocate had alleged that Hazi Izlal was closely related to a local MLA and a former MP and they had links with judges of the high court and a lawyer known to the judges.