Special court in prison to expedite PTA cases

[TamilNet, Saturday, 31 August 2002, 18:43 GMT]
The special High Court established in the Welikada prison to hear cases filed under the Prevention of Terrorism Act (PTA) is to function from September 15, Judicial Service Commission (JSC) sources said Saturday. This is the first time a special court has been set up in a prison to expedite the disposal of PTA cases, legal sources said.

Meanwhile human rights activists have condemned the establishment of a high court in a prison.

"This is the latest tactic used by the Attorney General department to delay the hearing of such cases," said human rights lawyer Mr.N.Srikantha, quoted by the English weekly Northeast Herald in its latest issue.

"Even if the judge takes up five cases a day it will be a long time before he reaches the end of the list," the English weekly Northeast Herald quoted Mr.Srikantha as saying.