Under SC scanner, Gujarat drops two spl prosecutors

Confirming the orders had been issued, State Law Minister Ashok Bhatt said: ‘‘Since there was a shortage of public prosecutors when the riot cases were reported, we had decided to appoint special public prosecutors in the district. But now we have enough public prosecutors to handle the cases.’’

However, Pathak, when contacted, said he was yet to receive a copy of the order. Trivedi could not be contacted. In most of the post-Godhra riot cases in Panchmahals, the accused have obtained bail even as witnesses complained of feeble attempts to resist the bail pleas of the accused in the court.

Most of the accused in important cases, including the Ambica Society case related to the murder of 13 people, the killing of seven persons in Eral village, the death of one person each in Kalol Referral Hospital and Rabbani Masjid and the murder of 10 people in Narmada Canal, have been let out on bail.

In fact, some witnesses and complainants communicated their unhappiness regarding the way the cases were being handled to senior officials.

Relief workers, who have been following the cases, make no bones of their apprehensions. ‘‘There have been no serious attempts to sit with the complainants and witnesses and prepare the cases thoroughly. There is a feeling that only feeble attempts were made,’’ alleged Mukhtar Ahmed, a relief worker from Panchmahals district.

Though Bhatt denied any other reason for the decision, sources believe the State Legal Department has taken the step in view of the fact that the Supreme Court is monitoring riot-related cases here.