Gopal Subramaniam and Ujjwal Nikam
Mumbai: The Maharashtra government has appointed a panel of two top lawyers in the country to prosecute the sole surviving 26/11 terror attack convict, Ajmal Aamir Kasab, in the Supreme Court hearing. Fixing the fee for Senior Advocate Gopal Subramaniam, a former solicitor general of the country, at Re 1, it has decided to pay several lakhs to advocate Ujjwal Nikam. The duo will together represent the state in the case.
According to a Government Resolution (GR) issued by state home department, dated August 26 (copy with MiD DAY), the state has informed S V Kharde, advocate in-charge of Maharashtra Sadan at the Supreme Court, of the fee and facilities to be provided to the duo during the hearing of Kasab's case at the Supreme Court.
Here's what they will be paid - Advocate Gopal Subramaniam's total fee will be Re 1. However, he can claim for the actual miscellaneous expenses occurred during the period. Advocate Ujjwal Nikam's result-oriented hearing fee will be Rs. 50,000 per appearance, besides Rs. 10,000 an hour for discussion and exchange of opinion. He will also be get business-class air travel for visits related to the case, along with a ministerial suite at Maharashtra Sadan in the capital.
Nikam, who was special prosecutor during Kasab's trial last year, admitted to MiD DAY that he had asked the government for the above remuneration for the services he has been asked to render. "Professionally, I don't find anything wrong in it. In the Adarsh enquiry commission, advocates of my stature are getting Rs. 1,10,000 per date," Nikam said.
The ruling
The Bombay High Court has already announced its verdict in the 26/11 case, upholding the death sentence awarded to Kasab by the special anti-terror trial court on May 6, 2010 for his involvement in the three-day siege of Mumbai in November, 2008, which claimed 166 lives.
However, the High Court dismissed Maharashtra government's petition against the acquittal of two Indians, Faheem Ansari and Sabahuddin Ahmed, accused of aiding the crime. The two were let off for want of adequate evidence by the trial court.
On July 28, this year, Kasab had written a letter to the Supreme Court, challenging his conviction and death sentence. The state government has filed a fresh appeal against Kasab's appeal, and has also challenged the acquittal of the two other alleged terrorists.
According to a Government Resolution (GR) issued by state home department, dated August 26 (copy with MiD DAY), the state has informed S V Kharde, advocate in-charge of Maharashtra Sadan at the Supreme Court, of the fee and facilities to be provided to the duo during the hearing of Kasab's case at the Supreme Court.
Here's what they will be paid - Advocate Gopal Subramaniam's total fee will be Re 1. However, he can claim for the actual miscellaneous expenses occurred during the period. Advocate Ujjwal Nikam's result-oriented hearing fee will be Rs. 50,000 per appearance, besides Rs. 10,000 an hour for discussion and exchange of opinion. He will also be get business-class air travel for visits related to the case, along with a ministerial suite at Maharashtra Sadan in the capital.
Nikam, who was special prosecutor during Kasab's trial last year, admitted to MiD DAY that he had asked the government for the above remuneration for the services he has been asked to render. "Professionally, I don't find anything wrong in it. In the Adarsh enquiry commission, advocates of my stature are getting Rs. 1,10,000 per date," Nikam said.
The ruling
The Bombay High Court has already announced its verdict in the 26/11 case, upholding the death sentence awarded to Kasab by the special anti-terror trial court on May 6, 2010 for his involvement in the three-day siege of Mumbai in November, 2008, which claimed 166 lives.
However, the High Court dismissed Maharashtra government's petition against the acquittal of two Indians, Faheem Ansari and Sabahuddin Ahmed, accused of aiding the crime. The two were let off for want of adequate evidence by the trial court.
On July 28, this year, Kasab had written a letter to the Supreme Court, challenging his conviction and death sentence. The state government has filed a fresh appeal against Kasab's appeal, and has also challenged the acquittal of the two other alleged terrorists.
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