Gulberg case: Court stays own order to call media houses,NGO for arguments

In an unusual development,the Special Fast-track Court,set up for the trial of Gulberg Society massacre in 2002,has stayed its own order inviting three media houses and a non-government organisation to participate in the arguments of the trial.

In an unusual development,the Special Fast-track Court,set up for the trial of Gulberg Society massacre in 2002,has stayed its own order inviting three media houses and a non-government organisation to participate in the arguments of the trial.

The trial judge,B U Joshi,stayed his order on Monday after a lawyer representing the victims sought adjournment on the grounds that the order is under the consideration of the Supreme Court,which is also deciding a petition seeking transfer of the case from Joshis court.

Before commencing the arguments,the trial judge had passed the order on November 29 asking three media houses and an NGO to make voluntary appearance in the arguments and give their views on certain issues related to the case. It had fixed December 13 as the date for the hearing.

The victims and witnesses in the case moved an application on Monday seeking adjournment on the grounds that the order has been kept before the SC for its consideration. Following this,the trial judge,B U Joshi,stayed his order.

The court also observed that the applicant has not mentioned any reason as to why the order has been placed before the SC for its consideration.

Certain victims and witnesses in the case have moved an application seeking transfer of the Gulberg Society case from the court of judge B U Joshi calling him biased.

The applicants had alleged that they had no hope of getting justice from the court since he had pre-judged the authenticity of the witnesses. The petition was rejected by the Gujarat High Court and an appeal against which is pending before the SC.

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The order of inviting media houses and an NGO in the arguments of the case was placed before the SC bench hearing the petition. The transfer petition is slated for further hearing at SC on Wednesday.

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