Appeals in Veerappan associates case listed for Sept. 19

By T. Padmanabha Rao

NEW DELHI, SEPT. 15. The Supreme Court today directed that the appeals (and related petitions) in the `Veerappan associates- release case' be listed for ``directions'' before an appropriate Bench of the Court on September 19, 2000.

A petition filed by `Women's Voice', a Bangalore-based organisation seeking the release of 12 women-detainees - (out of the 51 accused covered by the Mysore Sessions judge's order dated August 28) - would also be tagged on to the appeals.

This petition submitted that these innocent village women booked under the Terrorist and Disruptive Activities (prevention) Act had been languishing initially in police custody and taken in jail for years ranging from four to six without any trial and they had been ``exposed to all forms of cruel, inhuman and degrading treatment.''

The Bench gave today's directions during `mention time' when Mr. Harish N. Salve, Solicitor-General (SG) appearing for Karnataka requested the court to fix a date for early hearing of this case.

The Court on September 4 directed the State of Karnataka and the parties concerned in the case to complete their pleadings and file additional documents, if any, in connection with this case within 10 days.

(Karnataka and Tamil Nadu had since filed their responses in this case).

The apex court on September 1, directed that its (court's) interim order dated August 29 - that none of the respondents- accused (Veerappan associates) shall be released on bail or otherwise pending further orders - shall operate pending the disposal of the appeal from Mr. Abdul Karim, a retired police officer (appellant, father of a sub-inspector, Shakeel Ahmad, who was killed in 1992 along with a Superintendent of Police allegedly by Veerappan).

The appeal was against an order dated August 19 of the `Designated Court', Mysore, according `consent' to the special public prosecutor to withdraw charges for offences punishable under Sections 3, 4 and 5 of TADA against certain accused (Veerappan associates).

The Mysore Sessions judge's order dated August 28 - directing the release on `bail' of 51 accused - is also under challenge in this case.

(The court in its oral observations made during the hearing of this case on September 1, expressed its concern on the inability of the Karnataka Government in apprehending that man (Veerappan) for the past 8 years).

The Bench on September 1, also issued notices to the Union of India, States of Karnataka and Tamil Nadu on two connected writ petitions (WPs) filed by Dr. B. L. Wadhera, an advocate and another.

The Karnataka State in its response to the appeal, narrating in detail the efforts of the `Joint Task Force' (established by both Tamil Nadu and Karnataka) in the primary task of nabbing Veerappan in hostile terrain, bad weather, hostile local population and lack of experience in jungle operation, submitted that this led to the context on poaching and wood smuggling in the operational area of 18000 sq km covering 10 forests.

As tension has been building up throughout Karnataka in the wake of the abduction and captivity of Dr. Rajkumar, ``a man of immense popularity,'' ``the purpose and object underlying the proposal of the Government to withdraw from the prosecution of the offences is essentially to prevent breach of public peace and calm and to assure that the atmosphere of goodwill and harmony existing between Tamils and Kannadigas living in the States from being in any manner disturbed, besides protecting the lives and ensuring the freedom of innocent hostages,'' according to Karnataka's response.

The Tamil Nadu Government, in its reply (filed to Dr. B. L. Wadhera's writ petition), submitted that ``in dealing with hostage crisis, the Government of Tamil Nadu as well as the Government of Karnataka have been making earnest efforts to explore the possibility of a negotiated solution with the overall public interest as the prime consideration'' and ``the endeavour is to ensure that there is no disruption of harmony and peace amongst people of the two neighbouring States besides protecting the life and liberty of hostages who are innocent victims of criminal acts''.

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