High Court adjourns Best Bakery hearing

AHMEDABAD: The Gujarat High Court on Monday adjourned hearing on the appeal challenging the acquittal of 21 accused in Best Bakery case.
A division bench of Justice K R Vyas and Justice Kamal Mehta adjourned the matter to December 17 on an application of the defence counsel.
Defence advocates appearing on behalf of the accused submitted that they were yet to receive the copy of the “paper book� of the case.The advocates, stating that the “paper book� of the case was voluminous, sought at least three weeks time so that accused are given a fair chance to respond.
The bench was hearing an application filed by the government in September, challenging the verdict in the Best Bakery case by a fast- track court in Vadodara. It had sought a retrial in the case, in which 12 people were killed on March 1, 2002, on grounds that the case was loosely handled.
Meanwhile, SV Raju, appearing on behalf of many of the accused submitted before the court that five of the accused are unable to hire a lawyer due to their poor economic con dition. He pleaded with the bench to provide legal aid. The bench said the matter would be considered by the court on an appropriate occasion and the accused could approach the legal aid cell of the high court directly.
Advocate General SN Shelat, appearing for the state, sought permission to file additional grounds of appeal. The court shall take up this matter on Tuesday.
Shelat on Monday also clarified that the Best Bakery case does not figure in the list of cases who’s proceedings have been stayed by the Supreme Court.