NEW DELHI: After 35 years without a single witness being called to record oral evidence, the Supreme Court has stayed the trial proceedings against a police officer, indicating that it was in favour of quashing the case on the ground of delay alone. A bench of Justices J B Pardiwala and Vijay Bishnoi issued notice to Uttar Pradesh govt seeking its response on why the case should not be quashed.

The officer is facing trial for charges under Sections 147 (rioting), 323 (causing hurt) and 504 (insult) of IPC and Section 120 of the Railway Act. The case is pending in the court of additional chief judicial magistrate (Railway), Prayagraj.