Lack of NIA courts: Supreme Court says no option but to grant bail to undertrials

New Delhi: The Supreme Court on Friday lamented the lack of special NIA courts with requisite infrastructure to ensure expeditious trials in NIA cases.

A division bench comprising Justices Surya Kant and Joymalya Bagchi verbally warned the central government that if exclusive special NIA courts are not set up, then courts will have no option but to release undertrials on bail on account of delays in NIA trials.

"If authorities fail to establish special courts with requisite infrastructure for the purpose of conducting time-bound/expeditious trial under the NIA Act, the courts would invariably be left with no option but to release undertrials on bail," the bench said.


The development took place during the resumed hearing of a case where the SC had earlier emphasised the need to have dedicated courts to deal with trial of special cases under UAPA and MCOCA.

The SC granted Centre a last opportunity to arrange for the requisite infrastructure in this regard.