Shahid Azmi: Short career, long-lasting impact

Advocate Shahid Azmi, 32, was a strong advocate of reforming the criminal justice system. Here are some high points of his career.

3 major trials stayed
Azmi got the three big trials of 2006 — the July 11 Mumbai train blasts, the Malegaon blasts, and the Aurangabad arms haul — stayed by challenging the use of the Maharashtra Control of Organised Crime Act. “MCOCA is only applicable in cases of organised crime, not terror,” he said. He argued that section 2(1)(e) of the MCOCA, which includes “promoting insurgency”, was unconstitutional. The catch was that if use of the law were to be struck down, the cases would fall flat as the confessions of the accused were only admissible as evidence under MCOCA. The high court rejected Azmi’s application, but Supreme Court stayed the trials in February 2008.

Ghatkopar blast 2002
Prime accused Arif Paanwala was acquitted in 2006. The police applied the Prevention of Terrorism Act (Pota) in the case and arrested 18 suspects. Nine were discharged; one, Khwaja Yunus, died in custody; a special Pota court acquitted the other eight for lack of evidence. The case was a milestone in Azmi’s career. It led to Pota’s repeal.

Black Friday
Azmi saw that the film on the probe into the 1993 blasts was not released before the trial was completed. He said it would prejudice public opinion and the courts.

Prisoners have rights
In the 11/7 case, Azmi filed a petition in the high court in July 2008 alleging torture of the accused in Arthur Road jail. The high court ordered an inquiry which found the allegations to be true.