'No Misplaced Sympathy With Gangsters': Supreme Court Urges Expedition Of Trials In Delhi-NCR

Last Updated:July 24, 2025, 14:56 IST

The Supreme Court urged the Centre and Delhi government to set up fast-track courts for 288 pending gangster-related cases and ensure witness protection to expedite action.

Delhi Police's Anti-Auto Theft Squad (AATS) personnel at the site after an encounter (Photo: PTI)

The Supreme Court on Thursday highlighted the need to expedite trials in gangster-related cases and called on the Union of India and Delhi government to consider establishment of fast-track courts.

At the same time, it stressed the importance of witness-protection in such cases and probed Additional Solicitor General SD Sanjay about steps taken in this regard. It also lamented the rising threat to rule of law due to criminal incidents in the national capital region.

A bench of Justices Surya Kant and Joymalya Bagchi made the suggestion to the ASG, after it was informed that there are 288 trials pending in the national capital courts pertaining to gangster-related cases.

The court was hearing a bail plea filed by Mahesh Khatri alias Bholi, who is a gangster.

“Witnesses are your eyes and ears. What are you doing to protect them? Broad daylight murder on the street and a person goes scot-free due to lack of evidence," the court said.

“The rule of law is absolutely impaired in the eyes of the common man. There should not be misplaced sympathy with gangsters. Society needs to get rid of them. What is happening in NCR, Haryana?" it asked.

“Step out of Delhi’s geographical belt and see what is happening in Gurugram, Faridabad, and more such places," Justice Kant said.

The court opined that the establishment of fast-track courts could deal with such cases on a day-to-day basis.

However, it also said that if the proposed decision is taken by the governments, all pending trials can be brought to an end.

“There will have to be appropriate strength of courts to ensure that these cases can be aptly distributed and their trials can proceed on a day-to-day basis, considering the pendency of 288 trials against gangsters," the court remarked.

“If such a decision is taken by the appropriate authorities, it seems to us that all pending trials can be brought to an end," it added.

The court further noted that establishment of dedicated court complexes for speedy trial of hardened criminals/professional gangsters can help avoid a situation where they are to be released on bail.

As a corollary, the additional infrastructure can enhance safety and security, including of witnesses, which is “need of the hour’, it said, calling for a holistic view by stakeholders, especially the Union, the NCT of Delhi and the Delhi High Court, with respect to cases pending in NCT Delhi.

“This can only happen if the Union and the government of Delhi resolve to introduce a mechanism like fast-track courts for trial of these cases," the bench said.

“For this, additional posts of judicial officers will have to be created, or a separate ad-hoc cadre for such courts can be evolved. The infrastructural facilities and other requisite staff that may be required also need to be provided", the court said.

Justice Bagchi, in addition, opined that the “game plan" in such cases is to protract the trial to win over witnesses.

Justice Kant, on his part, added that gangsters should be dealt with “ruthlessly", but of course in accordance with law.

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Vani Mehrotra

Vani Mehrotra is the Deputy News Editor at News18.com. She has nearly 10 years of experience in both national and international news and has previously worked on multiple desks.

Vani Mehrotra is the Deputy News Editor at News18.com. She has nearly 10 years of experience in both national and international news and has previously worked on multiple desks.

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