Malegaon Blasts: SC directs Bombay HC to decide on issue of sanctions under UAPA

The Supreme Court today directed the Bombay High Court to decide on the issue of sanctions for trial against Lieutenant Colonel Prasad Shrikant Purohit in the Malegaon blasts case..The matter came up before the Bench of Chief Justice of India Ranjan Gogoi and Justices Sanjay Kishan Kaul and KM Joseph..Senior Counsel Harish Salve, appearing for Purohit, told the Court that the the trial against Purohit continued without the issue of sanctions being decided..According to a previous order of the Supreme Court, the question of sanctions for trial under the Unlawful Activities Prevention Act (UAPA), 1967 was to be decided by the Court at the time of filing of charges..The Court today was apprised that while the charges against Purohit have been framed, there are no sanctions for trial..The matter is listed before the Bombay High Court on November 21..Recently, a Special Court had commenced the formal trial against Purohit and six other accused in framing charges in the Malegaon blasts case. The blasts, which took place in 2008 near a mosque in Malegaon, Maharashtra, claimed the lives of ten people..Purohit, who was implicated in the blasts, had filed a petition in the Supreme Court seeking to quash the charges framed against him under the UAPA. The Court issued notice in the plea in January this year..In August last year, the Supreme Court set aside a Bombay High Court order, in effect granting Purohit bail..Read the Order: