Godhra victim’s father files plea in SC against HC order

A man who lost his son in the Godhra train carnage has approached the Supreme Court against the recent Gujarat High Court decision upholding the Central POTA Review Committee’s (CPRC) recommendation of dropping POTA charges against the accused in the case. Sardarji Maganji Waghela lost his son in the fire that engulfed the S-6 coach of the Sabarmati Express at Godhra railway station on February 27,2002.

Waghela has filed an appeal against the Gujarat High Court dismissal of his own petition challenging the decision of the Review Committee dropping POTA charges against the 134 accused. The bench comprising Chief Justice K G Balakrishnan and Justice P Sathasivam said the matter would be heard in the routine course as the date of hearing has been notified by the Registry. The matter is scheduled for hearing on March six.

The High Court bench comprising Justices Bhagwati Prasad and Bankim Mehta had,on February 13,upheld the CPRC’s recommendation. The High Court had had allowed the victim’s father to approach the apex court within two weeks against its verdict by staying all proceedings in connection with the Godhra case. The transfer of case from designated POTA court to the Sessions court was also stayed.