Akhlaq Lynching Case: Court Rejects UP's Plea to Withdraw Charges, Orders Daily Hearings

सही उत्तर: B

Statement 1 is correct. Section 321 of the Code of Criminal Procedure (CrPC) allows the Public Prosecutor to withdraw from the prosecution of any person at any stage before the judgment is pronounced, but this withdrawal requires the *consent of the court*. The court's consent is not a mere formality. Statement 2 is incorrect. The court is not bound by the reasons cited by the Public Prosecutor. It must apply its own independent mind and be satisfied that the withdrawal serves the interest of public justice and is not an abuse of the process of law. The court must consider whether the withdrawal is in the interest of the administration of justice. Statement 3 is correct. The court's decision to grant or reject consent for withdrawal is a judicial act and is subject to judicial review by higher courts, ensuring that the power is not exercised arbitrarily or for extraneous considerations.

सही उत्तर: B

The court's decision to reject the government's plea, despite the executive's stated reasons, demonstrates the judiciary's independent functioning and its commitment to ensuring that justice is served according to law, rather than executive convenience or political considerations. This directly upholds the rule of law, where no one, including the government, is above the law, and the judiciary acts as a check on executive power. Option A is incorrect as the court's rejection shows a limit to executive prerogative. Option C is incorrect as the court's decision is about applying existing law, not defining legislative scope. Option D, while important, is not the most significant principle reinforced by the court's defiance of an executive plea.

सही उत्तर: C

Statement 1 is correct. The Witness Protection Scheme, 2018, was indeed formulated by the Union Government (Ministry of Home Affairs) and subsequently approved by the Supreme Court, making it binding and enforceable across all states and Union Territories under Articles 141 and 142 of the Constitution. While not a parliamentary 'Act' in itself, it has legal force through the SC's directive. Statement 2 is incorrect. While some specific central legislations (e.g., POCSO Act, NIA Act) mandate special courts for certain offenses, the broader concept of 'fast-track courts' for general cases (e.g., long-pending cases) was often initiated through government schemes (like the 11th Finance Commission scheme) and implemented by state governments in consultation with High Courts, not primarily under a single, overarching central legislation. Statement 3 is correct. The Supreme Court has repeatedly emphasized the critical importance of witness protection for ensuring a fair trial and upholding the integrity of the criminal justice system, recognizing that a fair trial is impossible without protected witnesses.