SC clears Jayalalitha trial

By Our Legal Correspondent

NEW DELHI, APRIL 25. The Supreme Court today cleared the decks for continuing the trial against the AIADMK leader, Ms. Jayalalitha, in the controversial ``TANSI land deal case'' by ``erasing'' the judgment of the Madras High Court discharging her from the case.

A Bench comprising Mr. Justice K.T. Thomas and Mrs. Justice Ruma Pal, directed the special court-III in Chennai to proceed and conclude the trial of all the accused and dispose of the case as expeditiously as possible in accordance with the law.

The Bench passed this order when counsel for Ms. Jayalalitha sought permission to withdraw the criminal revision petitions challenging the trial court's order from the file of the High Court on which the impugned judgment was passed.

The apex court while admitting the special leave petition (SLP) from the Tamil Nadu Government had stayed the High Court judgment and directed the special court to proceed with the trial by including Ms. Jayalalitha as an accused. But the trial court was asked not to deliver the judgment till the verdict was given in the SLP.

The case pertained to purchase of TANSI lands by Jaya Publications and Sasi Enterprises (firms in which Ms. Jayalalitha and Ms. Sasikala were partners) at a price lower than the guideline value resulting in a loss of Rs. 3.5 crores to the Government. The trial court framed charges against all the accused including Ms. Jayalalitha and on appeal, the High court discharged her in the case.

The Bench in today's order said, ``we declare that the impugned judgment of the High Court will stand erased''. The Bench felt it was not proper for the High Court to have expressed its views on the merits and law points involved in the case when the trial was at an advanced stage.

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