2008 blasts case: HC asks special court to conduct speedy trial

The Gujarat high court has directed a special court, trying the 2008 Ahmedabad serial bomb blasts, to conduct <g data-gr-id="18">speedy</g> trial of the case. "I may only say that the trial court shall make all possible endeavour to see that the trial proceeds expeditiously," Justice JB Pardiwala said.

The court acted on a petition filed by Safdar Hussain Nagori- one of 78 accused in jail in the serial blast case, who had said in his plea that the trial of the case took more than seven years and sought bail for him and others on the ground of delay in trial.

On this, the court said, "The law is very settled that mere delay in conclusion of the trial would not automatically give a right to the accused to pray for bail." 

<g data-gr-id="19">Special</g> public prosecutor in the case J M Panchal had submitted before the court that the trial of the case is very much in progress.

He also said that the Supreme Court had earlier given <g data-gr-id="16">an order</g> to expedite its trial.

In a terror attack, 21 serial blasts had rocked Ahmedabad city on July 26, 2008, in which 56 people were killed and hundreds were injured.