Godhra riots panel gets more time

Following the submission of the preliminary report by the five member Special Investigation Team SIT reinvestigating the post-Godhra communal riots, the Supreme Court on Tuesday gave an extention till December 31 to the committee to turn in its final report. Senior Advocate Harish Salve, who in his capacity as amicus curiae submitted the report to the court, had sought more time for the SIT to complete its investigations.

The three judge bench comprising Justices Arijit Pasayat, P Sathasivam and Aftab Alam put on record their appreciation of the work done by the SIT while granting the extension.8221;They are doing a good job. Let us give them some more time,8221; observed the bench.

The SIT was constituted by the Apex Court on March 25 this year in response to a 2003 NHRC petition for transfer of the case and trial outside Gujarat due to the threats faced by the witnesses, most of whom had turned hostile.