ORDER

The pivotal fact around which the controversy centers, is abduction, rape and murder of an eight year old girl. An F.I.R. was lodged at Hiranagar Police Station, Kathua, which was registered as F.I.R. No.10 of 2018. The investigating agency, namely, the Crime Branch, which took over the investigation on 22nd January, 2018 from the local police has already filed the charge-sheet on 9th April, 2018, in the court of Chief Judicial Magistrate, Kathua in the State of Jammu & Kashmir.

2. As asserted in the writ petition, since there have been some unwarranted situations that have occurred in and outside the Kathua Bar Association, the locality in question, the involvement of many groups and various other aspects, a fair trial is not possible at Kathua. Be it noted, the High Court of Jammu & Kashmir had called for a report from the District & Sessions Judge, Kathua, who has submitted the report and the same has been brought on record. Suffice it to mention that the report indicates that there had been some obstruction by the Bar Association at Kathua. We do not intend to dwell upon the same in detail.

3. The issues that emerge for consideration are whether the charge-sheet filed by the