New Delhi: After 35 years without calling a single witness to record oral evidence, the Supreme Court has stayed the trial proceedings against a police officer, indicating that it was in favor of quashing the case only on the grounds of delay. A bench of Justices JB Pardiwala and Vijay Bishnoi issued notice to the Uttar Pradesh government and sought its response as to why the case should not be quashed.

The officer is being prosecuted under IPC sections 147 (rioting), 323 (causing hurt) and 504 (insult) and section 120 of the Railways Act. The case is pending in the court of Additional Chief Judicial Magistrate (Railway), Prayagraj.