Special SC hearing on non-working day on Dua's plea one of many instances

Hearing a case on a non-working day, the Supreme Court granted relief to journalist Vinod Dua and declared the sedition case slapped against him as 'void'. However, the apex court said that Dua will have to join the probe launched by the Himachal Pradesh Police.

New Delhi : The Supreme Court hearing a plea of journalist Vinod Dua seeking quashing of a sedition case against him on Sunday is one of the many instances when the top court opened its doors on a non-working day.

In a special hearing, the court granted relief to Dua against any coercive action from Himachal Pradesh police till July 6 with a condition that he will have to join the probe and there shall be no stay on the ongoing investigation in the sedition case over his YouTube show.

However, this is not the first time when the apex court heard a case on a non-working day. Last year, there were four instances when the apex court held special proceedings on non-working days.

On November 24, a Sunday, the apex court heard a plea by Shiv Sena-NCP-Congress combine seeking quashing of the Maharashtra governor's decision to swear-in BJP's Devendra Fadnavis as chief minister.

READ:SC restrains Himachal Pradesh police from arresting Vinod Dua in sedition case, refuses to stay probe

The apex court gave its historic verdict in the Janmabhoomi-Babri Masjid land dispute case in Ayodhya on November 9 (Saturday), granting 2.77-acre of the disputed land in the holy town to deity Ram Lalla.

Adding to the list, the top court had constituted a special bench on a Sunday to accord urgent hearing on October 7 regarding the felling of trees in Mumbai'sAarey to set up a Metro car shed which was being opposed by green activists and a section of people, including residents.

On April 20, a Saturday, the top court held an extraordinary hearingafter its former employee accused then chief justice of India Ranjan Gogoi of sexual harassment and persecution. (PTI)

READ:SC to hear plea for quashing FIR against journalist Vinod Dua in Himachal Pradesh