SC Demands J-K Govt's Reply on 7-Year Murder Trial Delay

• The Supreme Court expressed displeasure over an undertrial prisoner, Anoop Singh, being jailed for seven years in Jammu and Kashmir on a murder charge.
• Justices JB Pardiwala and KV Viswanathan noted only four out of 19 prosecution witnesses have been examined, questioning the trial's delay.
• The bench warned it would hold the state government and prosecuting agency accountable if satisfactory reasons for the delay are not provided.
• The Supreme Court issued notice to the J-K government and sought an explanation from the trial court regarding the seven-year pendency.
• Anoop Singh was booked under murder charges (Ranveer Penal Code, now IPC Section 302) in 2018 at Bari Brahmana police station, District Samba.

Why It Matters: The Supreme Court is pressing the J-K government and trial court for answers on a seven-year murder trial delay.