The petitioner, Lakhan Naik, contended that there was only one MCOCA court in nearby Thane which was also hearing cases from other districts such as Ratnagiri, Navi Mumbai and Raigad. As a result, the cases had piled up in the court.
If each of these districts has separate special MCOCA court, then the cases would be heard by them respectively and would not pile up in the Thane court. This will ensure speedy disposal of the cases in each of these districts, the petition, filed through jail, contended.
Advocate Pankaj Kavale, who appeared for the petitioner, argued that state government had not constituted the review committee to look into the cases filed against accused. Under the existing laws and Supreme Court guidelines, such committees should be regularly appointed to review the cases filed under MCOCA, he said.
Prosecutor Ajay Gadkari informed that the state had already issued a notification setting up a special MCOCA court in Thane mainly to hear the cases filed in Ratnagiri, Navi Mumbai, Raigad and Thane districts.
Justices A M Khanvilkar and Rajesh Ketkar asked the state government to file its say on August 3.