NIA scurries to Top Court, hearing moment

Apex Court doesn't typically sit on Saturdays, but it has done so on rare occasions to conduct special sounds on critical matters 

The Supreme Court on Friday declined to stay the Bombay High Court order acquitting former Delhi University professorG.N. Saibaba of alleged Maoist links, but agreed to list the National Investigation Agency’s appeal for critical hail on Saturday morning. 

The Supreme Court doesn't typically sit on Saturdays. But it has done so on rare occasions to conduct special sounds on critical matters. 

Around 4 pm, as the court of JusticeD.Y. Chandrachud was about to rise for the day, solicitor-general Tushar Mehta had rushed in with a plea. 

He wanted an immediate stay on the high court judgment and critical hail of the NIA’s appeal against it. 

Mehta told the bench, which included Justice Hima Kohli, that if the verdict wasn't stayed, Saibaba could be released on bail before the apex court restarted on Monday. 

He said he'd been forced to mention the matter before the bench of Justice Chandrachud as the bench of Chief Justice of IndiaU.U. Lalit had formerly risen for the day. 

Justice Chandrachud turned down Mehta’s oral plea for a stay, saying “ We can not stay the vindication. ” 

The bench added that a formal notice demanded to be issued to the indicted before the matter could be heard. 

Originally, the court said it would list the matter only on Monday. still, at Mehta’s request, the bench allowed him to mention the matter before the register and seek suitable instructions from the Chief Justice for its table on Saturday. 

Following a request from the NIA to Justice Lalit through the registry, the matter was listed for hearing at 11 am on Saturday before the bench of JusticeM.R. Shah and Justice Bela Trivedi.