India, Nov. 12 -- Keeping an accused behind bars for more than six years without the trial even beginning amounts to "punishment in itself", the Supreme Court has held, reminding courts that even the rigours of special laws must yield to the constitutional right to personal liberty. "Keeping an accused incarcerated without trial for more than six years itself amounts to punishment, which is unacceptable," said the court in a recent order, as it granted bail to a man in a narcotics case. The SC was categorical that the stringent restrictions under Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act cannot override the constitutional guarantee of personal liberty. The top court noted that the accused had been in custody since May 16, 2020, and although charges were recently framed, the trial was yet to commence.P8...