The Supreme Court declined to stay the acquittal of former Delhi University professor GN Saibaba, who along with five others, had been accused of Maoist links and charged under the stringent UAPA law. They were acquitted by the Bombay High Court’s Nagpur bench, which ruled that there was insufficient evidence to sustain their conviction. Despite the Maharashtra government’s plea for an early hearing against the acquittal, the Supreme Court emphasized the ‘hard-earned’ nature of the ruling and noted the absence of urgency since the convictions had been reversed.
GN Saibaba’s odyssey through the legal system began nearly a decade ago with his arrest in 2014. The Nagpur bench of the High Court cited lack of valid sanction and absence of solid evidence in their decision, thereby undermining the legitimacy of the charges. This narrative sheds light on Saibaba’s prior conviction carrying allegations of waging war against India, and details his subsequent incarceration. Saibaba expressed his eagerness to return to academia, lamenting the lost years and the hardships he faced, and his desire to be compensated and reinstated as a professor.
Saibaba’s personal history is marked by adversity; his life changed due to polio at the age of five. His story, woven with details of his wife Vasantha and their shared love for literature, reveals their struggles and his unwavering spirit in the face of severe physical and emotional challenges, including his nearly decade-long imprisonment. His prominence as a voice against Operation Green Hunt and an advocate for tribal rights, along with his critical views on society’s norms, showcases his commitment to justice. Despite the odds, Saibaba continues to fight for human rights, emphasizing the plight of undertrials in jails. The High Court observation that led to his release cited dodgy evidence against him, marking a decisive turn in a prolonged legal battle, notwithstanding the Maharashtra government’s move to challenge his acquittal in the Supreme Court.