93 Mumbai blasts: Court to pronounce sentence for 16 convicts

A special TADA (Terrorist and Disruptive Activities (Prevention Act) Court is likely to pronounce sentence for 16 convicts in connection with the 1993 Mumbai serial blasts case here today. arlier, the court had adjourned the sentencing after the convicts produced a Supreme Court judgment, which stated that punishing TADA accused even when the Act has expired could be a violation of Article 14 (equality before law) of the Constitution.

Mumbai, June 21 : A special TADA (Terrorist and Disruptive Activities (Prevention Act) Court is likely to pronounce sentence for 16 convicts in connection with the 1993 Mumbai serial blasts case here today. arlier, the court had adjourned the sentencing after the convicts produced a Supreme Court judgment, which stated that punishing TADA accused even when the Act has expired could be a violation of Article 14 (equality before law) of the Constitution.

Defence counsel Farhana Shah said that TADA's Section 1 (4) stated that the Act would remain in operation till May 24, 1995 and from the next day its provisions would be inapplicable.

Shah asked the court that the present case be referred to the Supreme Court or to the Bombay High Court as an alternative, and appealed to stay the proceedings till then.

Special Public Prosecutor Ujjwal Nikam said that Justice Markandey Katju's statement was merely "expressions of opinion" and were not binding on the lower courts.

The TADA court has so far sentenced 76 out of 100 people convicted for their role in the serial blasts that claimed 257 lives.

ANI