Source : NDTV
Paving the way for the trial court to pronounce its verdict in the 2002 Gujarat riots cases, the Supreme Court today vacated its stay order.
The Court, however, said the trial court shall not pronounce its judgement in the case relating to the killing of former Congress MP Ehsan Jaffrey in which Chief Minister Narendra Modi has been questioned by the Special Investigation Team (SIT).
A three-judge special bench of Justices D K Jain, P Sathasivam and Aftab Alam passed the order while vacating its May 6 stay on pronouncement of judgement.The bench said that the court can proceed with the trial in Jaffrey case as the SIT is still in the process of examining certain witnesses.
The Court had on May 6 stayed the pronouncement of judgement in the Gujarat riots cases following allegations of botched up investigation and demand for re-constitution of SIT that had been subsequently effected pursuant to the bench's earlier direction.
Meanwhile, amicus curiae Prashant Bhushan recused himself from the case following an application moved by the Gujarat government.
The application sought Bhushan's recusal alleging that he was biased and had strong views against the Chief Minister and the BJP government in the state.
The Court accepted Bhushan's plea for recusal and recorded the same in an order.
The bench also issued notice to the Gujarat government on the plea for transfer of the judge dealing with the Gulberg society case relating to the killing of Ehsan Jaffrey.
It was alleged that the judge was biased, favouring the accused and humiliating the witnesses including Zakia Jaffrey, wife of the slain former MP.
The Court had passed the stay order after allegations were made about lapses in investigations being conducted by SIT into the 2002 Gujarat communal riots cases.
The Court had then appointed A K Malhotra, a former DIG of CBI, to verify allegations of lapses in investigations by SIT in the case.
The Court had passed the direction while dealing with the plea of NGO Citizen for Justice and Peace of Teesta Setalvad and some rights activists who sought a stay of the trial and sought reconstitution of SIT for its alleged bias.
The Court has directed Malhotra to verify the allegations after examining the reply filed by SIT on the issue and submit his report.
The 10 cases being monitored by SIT on the earlier directions of the Court are--Gulberg Society, Ode, Sardarpura, Narodao Gaon, Naroda Patya, Baranpura, Machipith, Tarsali, Pandarwada and Raghavapura.
This article can be found at http://www.ndtv.com/article/india/supreme-court-vacates-stay-on-godhra-trial-62514
No comments:
Post a Comment