A bench of Justices B N Aggrawal and G S Singhvi, however, on the plea of State’s counsel Anis Suharwady, granted three weeks time to the Government to file an affidavit on the progress made in the trial so far.

The bench, initially, expressed its inclination to shift the trial outside J&K after counsel and Panthers Party founder Bhim Singh complained that the apex court’s earlier direction for expeditious trial has been ignored by the State.

He said no progress had been made in expediting the trial which was ordered to be completed within nine months by the apex court on October 8, 2007.

The State’s counsel reiterated that it would not be possible for the Government to shift the Pakistani prisoners lodged in various jails of north India to J&K due to security considerations.

The counsel stated that it would not be possible for the State to shift the prisoners to the State as it would pose serious threat to national security.

Instead, he argued the State was air-lifting the prisoners to J&K whenever, the trial was scheduled.