Kochi, 07 Oct (H.S.):The Kerala High Court has rejected a plea by the accused in the murder of Maharaja’s College student and SFI leader Abhimanyu seeking a closed-door trial, while directing safeguards against photography and video recording inside the courtroom.

Justice C.S. Dias upheld the Ernakulam Sessions Court’s order declining to conduct the proceedings in camera, finding no urgent circumstances warranting such an arrangement.

Abhimanyu, a first-year undergraduate student at the government college in Ernakulam, was stabbed to death in 2018 following clashes linked to campus politics.

The trial against accused numbered one to 16 is currently underway before the Ernakulam Sessions Court. Investigation against accused numbered 17 to 26 is continuing. The accused approached the High Court challenging the trial court’s refusal to allow a confidential hearing.

Examining the circumstances of the case, Justice Dias held that the lower court’s decision contained no legal errors or infirmities requiring interference. The High Court consequently declined to overturn the order permitting an open trial.

However, the court observed that certain concerns raised by the accused could not be disregarded entirely and issued directions governing access and recording during the proceedings.

It ordered that nobody should be allowed to photograph or record videos of either the trial proceedings or the accused inside the courtroom. The Sessions Court must coordinate with the police to ensure compliance with this restriction.

The High Court also clarified that the trial judge could exercise discretion to restrict the entry of members of the public or particular individuals when crucial eyewitnesses are examined.

Such restrictions, the court said, could be imposed to ensure fairness and transparency in the conduct of the trial.

The ruling allows the proceedings to continue without a blanket closed-door arrangement, while enabling the Sessions Court to regulate courtroom access during crucial testimony and enforce the recording ban.

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Hindusthan Samachar / Arun Lakshman