SC to appoint special judge to hear coal allocation trials

The Supreme Court on Friday heard coal block allocation cases and decided to appoint a special judge to hear all the prosecution and trials related to this case exclusively.

Lawyer Prashant Bhushan said, "The judge will be selected by the Delhi High Court and the name would be sent to the Supreme Court by next Friday, July 25."

"A special public prosecutor would also be appointed for the prosecution of these cases. The court felt that if former solicitor general Gopal Subramaniam is agreeable he would be an outstanding choice but if not then some other special public prosecutor would be appointed," Bhushan added.

Another lawyer M.L. Sharma told that some of the political parties wanted to induct their personal advocate in the CBI proceedings in coal scam case, but that was declined by the Supreme Court.

"Upon the objection I suggested to the court that let Gopal Subramaniam be appointed as special public prosecutor in this matter who will take control in the trial court of the CBI. All the chef justice and attorney agreed upon his name, now we are waiting for his consent. The court has issued direction to registrar of Delhi High Court to issue notification and give name of special judge to conduct the coal block and all the connected offensive matter to be tried by that special court only," Sharma added.

According to the Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG), an estimated loss of Rs 1.86 lakh crores was caused to the national exchequer in the coal block allocation scam.