Delhi government asked to expedite 1984 riot cases
By IANSWednesday, January 27, 2010
NEW DELHI - The Delhi High Court Wednesday issued notices to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) and the Delhi government for the appointment of special public prosecutors to expedite the 1984 anti-Sikh riot cases pending before the various trial courts.
A division bench of Chief Justice Ajit Prakash Shah and Justice Rajiv Sahai Endlaw asked the CBI and the state government to respond by Feb 3.
The court was hearing a petition by the 1984 Carnage Justice Committee, which pleaded for trial on a day-to-day basis and to appoint a monitoring committee for overseeing the prosecution of the criminal cases pending before different courts.
Senior Advocate H.S. Phoolka, appearing for the 84 riots victims, said: As per the direction of the apex court, special public prosecutor and monitoring committee should be formed.
The court also said that it would pass a detailed order so that cases pending in the high court are also dealt with expeditiously.
Former parliamentarians Sajjan Kumar and Jagdish Tytler are amongst those accused of instigating mobs that killed over 3,000 Sikhs across Delhi in the days following the assassination of prime minister Indira Gandhi in October 1984.
The petition also states that the CBI took four years to file chargesheets in the cases and this is despite the fact that the issue was raised in both houses of parliament.
Whatever little action has been taken by the government is only an eye wash to show that something is being done. By virtue of its persistent inaction, the government has really made a farce of the whole system. Most of the persons, who are accused in these cases belong to the ruling party and there is every likelihood and apprehension in the minds of the victims as well as the general public that the government is not serious about securing due punishment for the guilty, the petition states.
The appointment of a monitoring committee to monitor these cases is essential to keep a check on the prosecution of the cases in order to meet the ends of justice and avoid miscarriage of justice, Phoolka said.
