Excerpt from news article

It seems at least one great English-speaking former British colony has caught on that civil trials and rights are not appropriate for terrorists.

With the filing of formal charges, however, the Indian judicial system must now grapple with the question of Kasab’s defence in the light of a refusal by lawyers to represent him.

India’s constitution provides for the right to legal aid and representation, as well as a “fair, just and equitable procedure” in court for any defendant, regardless of nationality.

But the honorary secretary of the Bombay Bar Association, M.P. Rao, told AFP in December that the unprecedented nature of the attacks meant normal rules should not apply.

“He has waged war on the country. If he’s waged war, the basic requirement of giving him a fair trial doesn’t really become justified,” he said.