Why were pleas not recorded in Sessions Court under Sosma?

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Pleas Were Not Recorded in Sessions Court Because Cases Under Sosma Are Tried at the High Court

Pleas for the six men charged with supporting the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) were not recorded in the Sessions Court because their cases fall under the Security Offences (Special Measures) Act 2012, commonly known as Sosma. Cases that are subject to Sosma are exclusively tried at the High Court. This legal framework dictates that such proceedings, including the formal recording of pleas, must take place at the higher judicial level.
Cases Involving Sosma Are Heard at the High Court

The Security Offences (Special Measures) Act 2012 mandates that any case falling under its purview must be transferred to the High Court for trial. This was the reason the six accused individuals, initially charged in the Sessions Court, had their cases moved. For instance, the prosecution successfully applied under Section 177A(1) of the Criminal Procedure Code to transfer the LTTE support case to the High Court.
Bail Applications Also Require High Court Jurisdiction

Beyond the initial plea recording, the jurisdiction for bail applications also shifts to the High Court when a case is governed by Sosma. The Sessions Court Judge Azura Alwi indicated that any submissions regarding bail must be directed to the High Court, given the case's transfer. This highlights the comprehensive nature of the High Court's authority over Sosma-related matters.
Accused Were Detained Under Sosma, Precluding Sessions Court Plea Recording

The specific reason pleas were not recorded at the Sessions Court level was that the individuals were detained under Sosma. This detention status automatically places their cases under the exclusive jurisdiction of the High Court. Consequently, their pleas will be formally recorded later, once proceedings commence in the High Court.

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Why were pleas not recorded in Sessions Court under Sosma?

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