Indian SC Directs Video-Conferencing Facilities for Yasin Malik’s Trail
January 21, 2025In a bid to ensure fair proceedings, the Indian Supreme Court has ordered the installation of proper video-conferencing facilities for the ongoing trial of Muhammad Yasin Malik, currently incarcerated in Tihar jail.
On Monday, the Indian Supreme Court directed the registrar generals of both the Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK) High Court and the Delhi High Court to ensure the installation of reliable video-conferencing (VC) systems for the ongoing trial of Muhammad Yasin Malik, the jailed Jammu and Kashmir Liberation Front (JKLF) Chairman. Malik is currently facing charges in a fabricated financing case, and his trial is being conducted while he is detained in Tihar jail.
The bench, led by Justices Abhay S Oka and Ujjal Bhuyan, issued the order after addressing concerns raised by a special court in Jammu regarding malfunctioning VC systems during recent hearings. The court emphasized that an efficient and dependable VC system was essential to facilitate the cross-examination process, particularly for Malik, who cannot attend in person due to his detention.
The bench instructed the IIOJK High Court’s registrar general to resolve the technical issues reported by the special court and to implement a proper VC system. A status report on the progress is due by February 18. Similarly, the Delhi High Court’s IT registrar has been tasked with ensuring that the VC facilities at Tihar jail meet the necessary requirements for the trial.
Malik’s case is tied to the 1989 abduction of Rubaiya Sayeed and the 1990 killing of four Indian Air Force personnel in Srinagar, events that have long been contentious. As Malik remains in custody, the Supreme Court has emphasized the importance of making the trial process as transparent and effective as possible, given the circumstances.
During the hearing, the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) requested the transfer of the trial to New Delhi, citing logistical reasons. However, defense counsel opposed the move, pointing out the health concerns of Malik and advocating for the trial to continue in IIOJK, with Malik participating through video-conferencing.
In a bid to expedite the process, the Supreme Court also suggested the possibility of setting up a special court at Tihar jail to handle the trial. Malik, who was sentenced to life imprisonment in a separate funding case in 2023, continues to face multiple legal challenges.
The Supreme Court has scheduled the next hearing for February 21, 2025, following the submission of status reports by the IIOJK and Delhi High Courts. The court’s intervention aims to ensure that the trial proceeds smoothly, while addressing the challenges posed by Malik’s detention.
