On Tuesday, the Nagpur bench of the Bombay High Court overturned the conviction of former Delhi University professor GN Saibaba and five others in an alleged Maoist-links case. The court stated that the earlier trial, which led to their conviction in March 2017, was void due to the absence of a valid sanction under the Unlawful Activities Prevention Act (UAPA). The Supreme Court has directed the Bombay High Court to reevaluate the case without being influenced by its previous decision.
Background on GN Saibaba Case and UAPA Implications
In 2014, GN Saibaba, a Delhi University professor with disabilities, was arrested under the Unlawful Activities Prevention Act (UAPA) for alleged links to the banned Communist Party of India (Maoist). After a closed trial in 2017, he and five others were convicted and sentenced to life imprisonment.
The UAPA, a controversial anti-terrorism law, has been criticized for its broad definition of "unlawful activity," which has led to its misuse against political dissidents and activists.
Nagpur High Court Ruling
On Tuesday, the Nagpur bench of the Bombay High Court overturned Saibaba's conviction, citing the lack of a valid sanction from the government to prosecute him under the UAPA. The court also held that the trial judge had violated Saibaba's right to a fair trial by not appointing an advocate for him.
Supreme Court's Directive
Following the High Court's ruling, the Supreme Court has directed the court to reevaluate the case without being influenced by its previous decision. The Supreme Court's directive has raised hopes that Saibaba may finally receive a fair trial after years of legal wrangling.
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