The long wait for justice was further postponed for another day as the final verdict in the 1993 Mumbai serial blasts case will now be announced on September 12. The decision came as a disappointment for all those who have been waiting for the long trail to finally come to its logical conclusion.

The TADA judge ruled that he would begin dictating his order today and that the operative part will only be announced on September 12.

Gangster Abu Salem's lawyers have argued that the court should postpone its verdict till the Bombay High Court decides on an application by accused Abu Salem to have his case heard with those of the others. The Bombay High Court is to hear Salem's petition on August 14. But the TADA Court has said it will go on with its bomb blast verdict as planned.

The court may take more than a fortnight to deliver the entire verdict considering the testimony of 686 witnesses in over 13,000 pages of evidence tendered by them -- a record of sorts in Indian legal history.

The blasts were masterminded by underworld don Dawood Ibrahim with the help of his lieutenants Tiger Memon and Mohammed Dossa, allegedly at the instance of Pakistan's intelligence agency, ISI, to avenge demolition of disputed Babri Masjid. The series of 13 powerful blasts which had ripped through the city on March 12, 1993, killed 257 people, injured 713 and damaged property worth Rs 30 Crores.

Justice delayed is justice denied. India is probably the only country in the world where criminals are never punished thanks to the judicial system, muscle and money power. Is the law only for the poor and do rich and powerful always get away? Is it time to revamp our judicial system?

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