On a challenge to the Special NIA Court’s refusal to prioritise identified prosecution witnesses, the Division Bench directed the trial court to ensure that eyewitnesses and other material witnesses are examined before formal or official witnesses.
Judge / Bench — Justices Sanjeev Kumar and M A Chowdhary; order by Sanjeev Kumar, J.
Their evidence bears directly on the allegations and can enable meaningful consideration of a detained accused’s request for bail; leaving it until the end of a long prosecution witness list can prejudice that opportunity. The petition was disposed of with this trial-management direction, without deciding guilt or granting bail. The ruling provides a focused procedural request for defence counsel — identify the genuinely material witnesses and explain why their early examination matters to adjudication and liberty.
Case — Jan Mohd Teli v. National Investigation Agency, Jammu · CM(M) 200/2026 · 7 October 2026 · Jammu wing
Advocates appearing — Petitioner — Mr. I. H. Bhat, Advocate, with Mr. Shariq H. Qazi, Advocate. Respondent/NIA — Mr. Vishal Sharma, DSGI, with Mr. Karan Sharma, CGSC.