Ajmal Kasab verdict enhances Indian legal system's prestige: P Chidambaram

Welcoming the confirmation of death penalty of 26/11 convict Ajmal Kasab by the Bombay high court, home minister P Chidambaram today said it had enhanced the prestige of India's legal system but rued the lack of progress in the case in Pakistan.
    
"I compliment the prosecution. This is a tribute to our legal system," he told reporters while commenting on the Bombay high court's decision.
    
He said the manner in which the case was conducted in India has "raised the prestige" of the country's judicial system.
    
"I think, we should allow our legal system to deal with case in the manner every other cases dealt with," the home minister said.
    
At the same time, he observed that the trial in the case was making no headway in Pakistan.
    
"Between the high court and the trial court in Pakistan, in a way there has been no movement at all (on 26/11 case)," he said when asked whether, in the light of the judgement, India would call for a speedy hearing of the case in Pakistan.
    
He noted that when the case came up a couple of days ago in Pakistan, the prosecution had asked for an adjournment on the ground that the matter was pending in the high court.
    
"But in the high court, the judge, who was dealing with the case had retired," he noted.
    
Law minister Veerappa Moily also welcomed the judgement and said the Indian judicial system was fair and equal to everybody and the same was demostrated by the Bombay high court in upholding the death sentence of Kasab.
    
"Entire world knows how our judicial system works... very methodical, very systematic....it reflects well of our judiciary," he said.
    
Terming the judgement as "well carved out", he said the justice delivery system has dealt with the subject in a fair and equal manner.
    
"It is fair to everybody..equal to everybody and that is what is demonstrated by this judgement on Kasab," the law minister said outside Parliament House.