Six-point agenda for Gundewar

The six point agenda of the commission includes:

1) whether any individual/group/organisation was responsible for the desecration of the bust and whether the act was pre-planned with a view to cause communal disturbances.

2) whether the public reaction toward the incident was spontaneous or instigated by any individual/group/organisation.

3) whether steps taken by the police to deal with the crowd and disperse it were adequate and in accordance with the procedures established for riot control, or if the force used was excessive and if so, to fix the responsibility for the lapses, if any.

4) whether use of force, including firing, was justified or otherwise.5) measures, general or specific, which are required to be taken by the police and the administration, to avoid such occurrences in future.

6) Any other matter of public importance regarding above.

The notification, dated July 16, was sent by the Home Department in Mantralaya.

The judge has been asked to prepare a report within two months from the publication of the notification in the official gazette. The government has set up the inquiry under the section 3 and 5 of the Commissions of Inquiry Act, 1952. The informal announcement of the commission was made by Chief Minister Manohar Joshi last week. However, sources in Mantralaya claim that Justice Gundewar Commission will start its work only after two months. Basic facilities like office secretariat and a courtroom is still to be allotted to the judge. Representatives of the state Home and Law department today met the judge for preliminary discussions.

The official notification explains the rationale behind the inquiry as “since disturbances occurred involving incidents of violence and disorder resulting in deaths and damage to property in and around the Mata Ramabai Ambedkar Nagar located on the Eastern Express Highway, Ghatkopar… and while dealing with these disturbances, police had to resort cane-charge and firing causing death of about 10 persons and injuries to around 26 persons, inquiry is called for.”