Godhra train carnage: POTA judge transfers case to Sessions court

Earlier in the day,the Supreme Court refused to grant stay on the Gujarat High Court judgment repealing POTA against the Godhra accused and ordered that the Special POTA court in Ahmedabad must implement apex court’s order of December 1,2008,upholding the constitutional validity of the Central POTA Review Committee (CPRC). The CPRC,in its recommendations,had observed that POTA did not apply to the Godhra accused,as there was no evidence of terror conspiracy. It recommended trial of the accused under the Indian Penal code. The recommendations were made binding on the court and the state Government.

The high court in its order on February 12 had observed that there was no evidence to suggest that the accused had entered into a conspiracy. The Bench had ordered shifting of the case from POTA court to the trial court.