Delhi HC refuses to stay proceedings against Jagdish Tytler

The Delhi High Court on Monday said the murder trial in the 1984 anti-Sikh riots case involving Congress leader Jagdish Tytler would proceed, despite his plea to pause the trial until the HC decided on his challenge to the charges.

Hearing the case, Justice Manoj Kumar Ohri said the trial would continue but it would be subject to the outcome of Tytler’s petition, which was scheduled for hearing on November 29.

Tytler’s counsel argued for a temporary halt, noting that the trial court had scheduled the recording of the testimony of a prosecution witness on November 12 and that the HC’s decision on Tytler’s plea could impact the proceedings. In his petition, Tytler has challenged the framing of charges, which include murder, rioting, unlawful assembly, promoting enmity, house trespass and theft.

He contended that the trial court’s decision to charge him was “perverse” and “lacked application of mind,” claiming he was not present at the incident site.

However, the CBI and the counsel representing victims argue that this alibi defence has already been dismissed by the court.