SC orders TN CM to be present before special court

In a setback to Tamil Nadu Chief Minister J Jayalaltihaa, the Supreme Court on Monday directed her to appear before the special court trying the disproportionate assets case against her.

The Supreme Court order comes in the wake of an earlier application filed by her seeking exemption from a personal appearance on the grounds of security and also the fact that she needs to be in Chennai in view of the budget session.

A division bench of the Supreme Court comprising Justice Dalveer Bhandari and Justice Deepak Verma while passing the order observed that it would be the discretion of the trial judge to decide on whether the trial would be conducted in a separate room or in the regular court.

The Tamil Nadu CM would, however, have to file an application to this effect seeking an order.

The trial court house in the city civil court in Bengaluru is crowded and is a hub of activity. Jayalalithaa, who enjoys heavy security, was apprehensive that there could be a threat to her life in the wake of her being asked to be personally present. A battle regarding her appearance in court has been on in the trial court, which was set up almost five years back.

The Supreme Court while directing the Tamil Nadu chief minister to appear before the trial court on October 20, however, added that she be examined in a proper environment. The trial has been going on at a very slow pace ever since the special court was set up.

A couple of years back the Supreme Court had stayed the trial for sometime due to certain technicalities that were raised by the accused persons.