Concerned over delay in Gujarat riots cases: SC

Bench was taking stock of the status of the trials of nine riot cases that were investigated by the Special Investigation Team.

The Supreme Court on Tuesday expressed concern over prolonged incarceration of accused in the 2002 Gujarat riots cases without being held guilty due to delay in decisions.

A Bench led by Justice H L Dattu said the court had been receiving letters from some of them, questioning how long they were supposed to languish behind the bars though they had not been convicted.

“They say they have been languishing for over 10 years now. They cannot even come out on bail as the High Court says we cannot do anything. We want to be able to tell them that you remain inside or that you can come out. Trials have to be completed,” observed the bench.

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The bench was taking stock of the status of the trials of nine riot cases that were investigated by the Special Investigation Team. While judgments have been delivered in six of them, the trials still await the final word. In one such pending case that relates to the killing of three British nationals in post-Godhra riots, the Bench directed the trial court to conclude trials and deliver verdict within three months.

In Gulberg Society case where former Congress MP Ehsan Jafri was among the 69 killed, the Bench noted that a stay was operating against pronouncement of judgment by the apex court. It asked SIT and amicus curiae Harish Salve to move an application so that the stay order could be modified. It would take up the matter next on September 16 for passing necessary orders.

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