Gangsters Act Cannot Stall Other Criminal Trials; Priority Applies Only When Trial Dates Clash: Supreme Court

The Supreme Court has clarified that Section 12 of the Uttar Pradesh Gangsters and Anti-Social Activities (Prevention) Act, 1986 does not mean that every other criminal trial against an accused must remain suspended until the Gangsters Act case is completed. The Court held that the provision gives priority to the Gangsters Act proceedings only when the dates of the two trials actually clash. It does not create a legal requirement…