Umesh Pal Murder Case : Supreme Court Expresses Displeasure At Adjournment Request In Atiq Ahmad's Plea

The petition claimed threat to Atiq’s life pursuant to the murder of Umesh Pal, who was the star witness in the murder case of Raju Pal, a sitting Member of the Legislative Assembly. Raju Pal was shot dead on 24 February by the assailants outside his residence in Uttar Pradesh's Prayagraj. Atiq is one of the accused in the Umesh Pal murder case. He apprehends that he would be killed in a fake encounter.

As the petition came up before a Bench comprising Justice Ajay Rastogi and Justice Bela M. Trivedi, the Counsel appearing for Atiq submitted that the matter be adjourned in view of the fact that he would be filing some crucial documents and photographs pertinent to the case. Though notice was not issued in the petition, the Additional Solicitor General, Mr. KM Nataraj was present before the Court on behalf of the State of Uttar Pradesh to provide assistance.

Baffled, Justice Rastogi asked Atiq’s Counsel, “You don’t want to argue today? We’ll tell you one thing. These files were sent to our office at 11:30 at night.”

The Counsel responded, “I also came to know at 9:30PM. Till then I was not aware of this. Status was shown for 24th (March).”

Justice Rastogi said, “I was sitting in my office, 12 or 12:15, some truck came…I received these files myself. My staff had gone. I cannot retain my staff until 12 o’clock…You mentioned before Chief.”

He added -

“If you don’t have any urgency, why are you burdening us?”

The Judge said that he would mention in the order that -

“The matter was listed on an urgent mentioning made by the petitioner’s Counsel before the Hon’ble Chief Justice of India. Today when the matter has come on board, the petitioner has shown some inability to argue. List after one week.”

The Bench did not allow the intervention application filed by the complainant, as it opined that the Additional Solicitor General was already appearing and is capable of ‘taking care of the matter’.

Ahmad is currently lodged in a jail in Gujarat. He has approached the Supreme Court against the move to transfer him to UP jail in connection with Umesh Pal murder case.

[Case Title: Atiq Ahmad v. Union of India And Ors. WP(Crl) No. 107/2023]