‘Does the state have faith only in Nikam?’

PIL questions special public prosecutor’s appointment to represent state in Sangli case
MUMBAI: Expressing disapproval over the state government’s decision to appoint special public prosecutor Ujjwal Nikam to represent the state in a double murder trial in Sangli, the Bombay high court on Monday asked the government to furnish details of fees and facilities provided to Nikam, as opposed to what other prosecutors receive, to the court on Tuesday.
A PIL filed by Sangli-based Prakash Patil said the government had appointed 36 public prosecutors in Sangli district, but a notification was issued appointing Nikam as special PP on October 12, 2007. Patil, in his PIL, said Jalgaon-based Nikam’s appointment implied additional expenses of accommodation and travel along with his fees, which would be ultimately recovered from public funds.
“When there are 36 public prosecutors in Sangli, why should you (state government) take a man from Mumbai to appear in the trial?” justice Bilal Nazki said. “Does the state government have faith only in Nikam?” he retorted.
Patil’s PIL also said the appointment of special public prosecutor under the Criminal Procedure Code was a power that the government could use in “exceptional circumstances”. The PIL further said such appointment should not be be every time a request for it was made. Quizzing the government over its decision to appoint special public prosecutors in some cases and not in others, justice Nazki said, “You are giving the general public two different kinds of justice.”
DNAINDIA.COM; Mayura Janwalkar
Tuesday, March 25, 2008 03:28