New Delhi, March 22 (KNS): The Supreme Court has upheld the acquittal of seven individuals accused in the 1990 kidnapping and murder of then-Kashmir University Vice Chancellor Mushir-ul-Haq and his personal secretary, dismissing the Central Bureau of Investigation’s (CBI) appeal.
A bench comprising Justices Abhay S Oka and Ujjal Bhuyan ruled that procedural safeguards under the now-repealed Terrorist and Disruptive Activities (Prevention) Act (TADA) were completely disregarded during the investigation and trial. The court observed that truth and justice remained elusive for both the victims and the accused.
“The Special Court has stopped short of calling it an abuse of power and authority. It is a sad reflection on how the investigation and trial unfolded,” the bench remarked. The apex court emphasized that confessional statements must be recorded in a free atmosphere, criticizing the recording of statements in a heavily guarded BSF camp, which could have created an intimidating environment for the accused.Click Here To Follow Our WhatsApp Channel
The case, filed under TADA, involved members of the banned Jammu and Kashmir Students Liberation Front (JKSLF), including alleged self-styled Chief Commander Hilal Beg and others. They were accused of conspiring to kidnap Mushir-ul-Haq and his secretary on April 6, 1990, to demand the release of their associates. When their demands were not met, the hostages were killed on April 10, 1990.
The Supreme Court found no merit in the CBI’s appeal, stating that the Special Court’s decision to acquit the accused was justified and that no other conclusion was possible. With this ruling, the long-standing case has reached its legal conclusion.(KNS)