The Kerala High Court has refused to order a closed-door trial in the murder case involving Students’ Federation of India (SFI) leader Abhimanyu, while directing authorities to prevent photographs or video recordings of the accused inside the courtroom.
Justice CS Dias upheld the decision of the Ernakulam Principal Sessions Court, which had earlier rejected a request by the 13 accused for the entire trial to be conducted in-camera.
The High Court referred to Section 366 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS), 2023, which establishes open court proceedings as the general rule in criminal cases. At the same time, the provision allows a trial judge to exclude the public, or specific individuals, from the courtroom when circumstances warrant it.
Against that backdrop, the Court found no sufficient reason to keep the entire proceedings away from public view.
The Court nevertheless put safeguards in place. The trial court and police were directed to ensure that nobody photographs or records video of the accused or the proceedings from inside the courtroom.
The trial judge was also given liberty to limit public access while particular eyewitnesses are being examined, if such a step becomes necessary to protect the fairness of the proceedings.
The case stems from the July 1, 2018 killing of 21-year-old Abhimanyu at Maharajas College in Ernakulam. He was fatally stabbed during a clash that followed a dispute involving the placement of campus posters. Four other SFI activists were also attacked and suffered serious injuries.
Police subsequently registered a case under several provisions of the Indian Penal Code, including those relating to unlawful assembly, rioting, murder and criminal conspiracy. A charge sheet was filed in September 2018.
The matter was subsequently placed before the Principal Sessions Court in Ernakulam, where the trial has remained pending for more than seven years.
The High Court’s ruling therefore leaves the proceedings open to the public, while allowing the trial court to impose targeted restrictions where witness protection or the integrity of the trial requires them.