Key Takeaways

• But Grover stated the evidence has now not been placed before the court concerned.

Key Development 1

NewsIndia NewsActivist in jail for 7 years sans trial, SC steps in to hasten proceedingsTrendingCBSE Admit CardBengaluru LamborghiniStock Market TodayWPL Schedule 2026Bengladesh T20 World CupICC Mens T20 WC 2026 ScheduleIND vs NZ LiveBengaluru WeatherCBSE Admit CardBengaluru LamborghiniStock Market TodayWPL Schedule 2026Bengladesh T20 World CupICC Mens T20 WC 2026 ScheduleIND vs NZ LiveBengaluru WeatherCBSE Admit CardBengaluru LamborghiniStock Market TodayWPL Schedule 2026Bengladesh T20 World CupICC Mens T20 WC 2026 ScheduleIND vs NZ LiveBengaluru WeatherActivist in jail for 7 years sans trial, SC steps in to hasten proceedingsAmit Anand Choudhary / TNN / Updated: Jan 22, 2026, 03:41 ISTCommentsShareAA+Text SizeSmallMediumLarge NEW DELHI: Supreme Court Wednesday stated it would pass an order to expedite proceedings against lawyer-activist Surendra Gadling in the 2016 Surajgarh arson case after he pressed for bail on the ground that he has now been in jail for seven years without trial and there is also no judge in the special court to hear the matter.A bench of Justices J K Maheshwari and Vijay Bishnoi stated it is expected to talk to the chief justice of Bombay HC for the appointment of a judge and pass an order to expedite the hearing.

Senior advocate Anand Grover stated the activist is in jail for seven years and proceedings in the case are not moving forward as video conferencing facility is not working and there is no judge to preside over the special court.

This ruling was followed in other cases, including in Manish Sisodia's case in which the court stated long period of incarceration – running for around 17 months – and the trial even not starting, amounts to violation of right to speedy trial under Article 21 of the Constitution, making a fit case for bail.A division bench recently, while rejecting bail pleas of Umar Khalid and Sharjeel Imam held that delay in trial and long incarceration cannot be the sole ground to grant relief.

A three-judge bench in 2021 had stated in the K A Najeeb case that stringent conditions under Section 43-D(5) of the UAPA "melt down" as time passes and it does not oust the ability of the constitutional courts to grant bail on grounds of violation of fundamental rights.

Key Development 2

Though he stated it was a fit case for bail, the bench stated it would fast-track the hearing in the special (trial) court.As the case is based on the same set of evidence that is being used in the Koregaon Bhima Elgar Parishad case, the evidence, including documentary and digital, have to be brought to the trial court in Gadchiroli from the NIA court in Mumbai.

But later, SC in another judgment held that an accused has now fundamental right to speedy trial and it is not eclipsed by the nature of the offence.Gadling's bail plea is pending in SC since Oct 2023 when he filed an appeal against the Bombay HC order of denying him bail.

SC stated that it would pass an order for bringing the evidence and would grant one month to both the prosecution and the accused to examine the evidence and argue the case for framing of charges.The senior advocate stated the liberty of his client was being violated, which is a serious matter.

But SC was not inclined, and the lawyer then asked the bench to allow him to press for bail after a month.Amid inconsistent stands taken by SC on the issue of grant of bail due to delay in trial and long incarceration, the issue hangs in balance.

Key Development 3

But Grover stated the evidence has now not been placed before the court concerned.

The Surajgarh arson happened in Dec 2016 when around 39 vehicles engaged in transporting iron ore from the Surajgarh mines in Maharashtra's Gadchiroli were allegedly set on fire by Maoists.

He has now been booked for various offences under IPC and Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA).End of ArticleFollow Us On Social MediaVideos“Makes No Sense…" Ex-US Army Officer Slams Trump Over India-US RelationsUK, EU FTAs to Unlock New Export Opportunities for Assam Tea: Himanta Sarma'Rupture In World Order': EU Blasts Trump Over ‘Bullying’; Danish MP Fires Shock Message For US PresOperation Prahar: Punjab Police Raid Locations Linked to 60 Foreign GangstersIndia is expected to Surpass Japan To Become 3rd Largest Economy: Gita Gopinath At World Economic Forum 2026Democracy Took Roots In India In 600 BC, Long Before The World: CEC Gyanesh KumarExplained: Why India-EU 'Mother Of All Deals' Matters As Trade Talks Enter Final High Stakes PhasePakistan Defence Minister Khawaja Asif Inaugurates Fake Pizza Hut Outlet, Trolled on Social Media'Influencers, AI And Deepfakes': Indian Army Exposes Pakistan’s Digital War During Operation SindoorIndus Waters Flashpoint: Pakistan Cries Crisis At UN As India Hardens Terror Stance Post Pahalgam123Photostories'Dhurandhar 2 – The Revenge': A quick recap of Part 1 before Ranveer Singh’s teaser dropsFrom 'Naagzilla' to 'The Odyssey': The much-awaited fantasy movies releasing in 2026How to make Dhaba-Style Amritsari Paneer Bhurji for dinner at homeNot just the Beckhams: 5 famous family feuds that shocked the worldUnseen gems: Rare photos of Rajesh KhannaLaughter Chefs Season 3 to bring major changes: OG Arjun Bijlani, Ankita Lokhande–Vicky Jain return as Team Kaanta vs Churi endsJapanese Ambassador relishes biryani with bare hands: 6 times global leaders have shown love for Indian food10 Asian cities with the longest commute time to work2 Indian chicken dishes among top 17 in the worldDaily practices you can do for planetary balance123Hot PicksSilver price todayBudget 2026Karnataka DGP ScandalGold price predictionNitin NabinPublic holidays January 2026Bank Holidays JanuaryTop TrendingMatthew StaffordTravis KelceDonald Trump PlaneUdaipur Car AccidentJonathan KumingaCandace OwensDonna KelceJohn Harbaughs WifeKlay ThompsonsAshwini VaishnawTired of too many ads?go ad free nowTrending StoriesIn IndiaEntire WebsiteSC to set up expert panel on Aravalis, tells states to stop illegal mining 'at all costs'Power ministry's draft policy moots automatic revisions of tariff5 traffic offences in a year could bar you from driving65 student suicides at IITs in 5 yrs, alumni group calls for accountabilityCensus to count ‘near endangered’ Kashmir Markhor population to begin in FebSajad Lone questions Jammu-Kashmir unity, advocates cordial splitAhead of key Ladakh meet, Buddhist group meets MoS Home, opposes statehood demandOmar invokes Jinnah’s two-nation theory to taunt calls for separate Jammu stateJ&K: Op Trashi-I enters Day 4, hunt for ultras intensifiedJammu and Kashmir: Probe ordered into college student’s suicide in Doda, professor suspendedJohn Harbaugh’s wife Ingrid turns heads during Giants’ headline-making entranceMLB trade rumors: New York Mets might acquire $10 million Philadelphia Phillies star to bolster team before deadline“Virtually banned everywhere”: Sneako reportedly banned from US hospitality groups after anti-Semitism allegations surface‘Hangman’ Adam Page and Amanda Woltz combined net worth: AEW earnings, career growth, and lifestyleJeanie Buss’ intense beef with LeBron James reportedly escalated enough for Los Angeles Lakers to weigh bombshell rival-team trade“I need help fixing”: Podcaster Brent Wallace extends support to Linus Ullmark after he opens up about his mental healthLeBron James’ “outsized ego” reportedly became a quiet issue for Jeanie Buss: Inside ESPN’s reportStableRonaldo bans law firm account after viewers flag suspicious clips of FaZe house damageDodgers pitcher Alex Vesia and wife Kayla share emotional sunset post after heartbreaking loss of newborn daughterNico Hoerner net worth timeline (2016–2026): A decade of progress on and off the fieldTired of too many ads?go ad free now

What are your thoughts on this development? Share your opinion in the comments.