The Supreme Court, while dismissing RJD leader Mohammed Sahabuddin's petition that challenged the Bihar government's decision to conduct his trial in criminal cases against him in the Siwan jail, said the notification issued by the government and the Patna High Court for shifting his trial was valid, and the High Court is empowered to change the venue of trial.
A Division Bench, headed by Justice Dalveer Bhandari, upheld the State government's decision.
Although the Supreme Court said that in criminal cases, a public and open trial was mandatory, under extraordinary circumstances, it could be held on the jail premises.
Sahabuddin, 42, is facing trial in more than 40 criminal cases under various provisions of the Indian Penal Code.
