The Supreme Court of India has reinstated a criminal appeal filed by the complainant in the 2007 Ajmer Dargah blast case, setting aside a Rajasthan High Court order that had dismissed the plea due to a delay of 1,135 days. The apex court held that procedural technicalities should not override the fundamental right to justice, especially in matters concerning grave offences and national security.
The case stems from the October 11, 2007 explosion at the revered Ajmer Sharif Dargah during evening prayers, which claimed three lives and injured several others. Following an investigation by the National Investigation Agency (NIA), a Special NIA Court in Jaipur delivered its verdict in March 2017, convicting two accused while acquitting seven others.
Syed Sarwar Chishty, a Khadim (caretaker) of the Dargah and the complainant in the case, challenged the acquittals before the Rajasthan High Court on June 1, 2017. However, in May 2022, the High Court rejected his appeal on the ground that it was filed well beyond the 90-day limitation period prescribed under Section 21(5) of the National Investigation Agency Act, 2008.
Arguing before the Supreme Court, Chishty contended that such a strict interpretation of Section 21(5) violated his constitutional rights under Articles 14 and 21, as it effectively barred a legitimate appeal and denied access to justice. The Supreme Court found merit in his argument and ruled that while statutory time limits serve a purpose, they cannot be applied so rigidly as to defeat the essence of fair adjudication.
By condoning the delay and restoring the appeal, the Supreme Court has reaffirmed that justice should not fall victim to procedural rigidity. The case will now return to the Rajasthan High Court for a fresh hearing on its merits, ensuring that the victims and their families receive a full and fair consideration of their grievances.
The ruling carries broader significance, as it clarifies that even under special statutes like the NIA Act, the judiciary retains discretion to condone delays in the interest of justice—upholding the principle that access to appeal is a fundamental component of due process.
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