Coalgate: HC junks plea of accused against framing of charges

Delhi High Court on Thursday dismissed a plea challenging the special court’s order framing charges against a director of a private firm in a coal block allocation case in which industrialist Naveen Jindal is one of the accused.

Justice Mukta Gupta turned down the plea of Director of Gagan Sponge Iron Private Ltd (GSIPL) Girish Kumar Suneja who along with 14 others was put on trial in the matter.

The high court observed that the Supreme Court by its July 14, 2014 decision had made it clear that challenge to special court’s order would be heard only by it in coal scam cases. 

“It is trite law that the directions of the Supreme Court under Article 142 of the Constitution are binding on all the courts and the High Court is bound to come in aid thereto to see that the orders passed by the Supreme Court are enforced within its territory.

“Thus in view of the discussion aforesaid, following the mandate of the order dated July 25, 2014 passed by the Supreme Court the present petition is dismissed as not maintainable,” the court said. The court’s came on plea by Suneja, who has challenged the trial court’s April 29 order, by which he and 14 others were put on trial in the case.