The shifting of the National Investigation Agency (NIA) Special Court at Ravipuram to the court complex at Kaloor is getting delayed though the decision in this regard was taken four months ago.
The work of the court complex is getting delayed even as the NIA Court turns out to be one of the most sensitive areas in the state as several accused in major terror cases are tried there.
In February, based on police report on poor security at the Ravipuram Special Court, the Kerala High Court had granted permission to shift the court to Kaloor where the Family Court is functioning.
“Public Works Department is undertaking the renovation work. There is some delay in work, including electrical works. It would complete within a month,” High Court Registrar General B Kemal Pasha said.
The authorities had taken the decision to relocate the court as it is hard for the police to enforce foolproof security at the building at Ravipuram. The police suggested that shifting the court will help the cops monitor the entire area of the court complex and take control of the building whenever the terror accused are brought there. “The existing court premises lack sufficient security features. It has been operating in a rented building without a proper compound wall,” said a police official.
The three-storey building also houses two government offices, including the district insurance office and private firms. The insurance office is next to the NIA Court room and, more often people coming to the insurance office accidentally land in the court room. This also creates problems for the police officers in charge of security. The trial in the ‘Kashmir recruitment case’ is being held at the court and it may take two months to complete, a court official said.
The confidential files, statements, material evidence and case diaries of major terror-related cases are kept in the existing building. The cases under consideration of the NIA Court include the Kalamassery bus burning case, Panayikkulam and Vagamon SIMI camp cases, the palm chopping case and three fake currency cases. The police had filed a report after conducting a security audit of the NIA Court and filed a report before the Chief Justice.
Meanwhile, the notification regarding establishing one more NIA Court has also delayed. The High Court had given sanction for handing over charge of NIA Court to the CBI Special Court-1. Sources said that the CBI Special Court will also be shifted to the court complex since the NIA Special judge has the additional charge of the CBI Court too.
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