SC stays Sankararaman murder case trial

The Supreme Court on Monday stayed the trial in the Sankararaman murder case wherein Kanchi Sankaracharaya Jayendra Saraswati is a prime accused.

“The Pondicherry court shall not proceed with the trial of the case till further order,” a Bench comprising Justice K G Balakrishnan and Justice D K Jain said.

The Sankaracharya had challenged the Madras High Court order allowing the Tamil Nadu Government to continue with its own prosecutor in the case, which was shifted to the Pondicherry court on the directions of the Apex Court.

While hearing the petition, the Bench said the Tamil Nadu Government has “no business” to go to Pondicherry to conduct the case.

“The Tamil Nadu Government is no longer a prosecuting State,” the Court observed.

The Bench listed the matter for further hearing in the second week of July 2006.