The Supreme Court on Friday lifted its stay on trial of 10 post-Godhra riot cases and ordered day-to-day hearing by six fast track courts in Gujarat after turning down plea for shifting the trial outside the state.
The Supreme Court on Friday lifted its stay on trial of 10 post-Godhra riot cases and ordered day-to-day hearing by six fast track courts in Gujarat after turning down plea for shifting the trial outside the state.
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While vacating its stay order of November 21, 2003, the court directed that witnesses be provided security for their safe passage and if necessary at their place of living during the trial.
A bench headed by Justice Arijit Pasayat ordered the setting up of designated courts for riot cases in Ahmedabad, Anand, Sabarkanta, Mehsana and Gulbarga districts.
The court said it was necessary to hold day-to-day trial considering the fact that seven years have passed.
The court took into consideration the report filed by Special Investigation Team (SIT) headed by former CBI director RK Raghavan which probed the cases.
The apex court said that the SIT will file quarterly reports on the progress of the cases in sealed cover. The court said the Chief Justice of Gujarat High Court will appoint expert lawyers in criminal trial as public prosecutors for the trial of the cases.
Expressing 'happiness' over the court's order, Raghavan said, "I think it is going to facilitate the work of the SIT in Gujarat. I look forward to further work in that direction."
The Central government has been asked to make arrangements if relocation of witnesses was required. To avoid any unruly scenes during the trial process, the court will have to be stern, the Bench noted. It gave liberty to the SIT to approach the apex court at any stage for redressal of any grievances.
The SIT, which has investigated 10 cases including the Godhra train burning and subsequent riots cases, had submitted its report before the apex court in March.
The apex court had on March 26, 2008, constituted SIT which besides Raghavan as its head has former DG of UP police CD Satpathy and three IPS officers from Gujarat Geeta Johri, Shivanand Jha and Ashish Bhatia as its members.
The SIT was asked to 'inquire and investigate' cases relating to Godhra carnage in which 59 people were killed and subsequent riots in places like Godhra, Gulbarg Society in Ahmedabad, Naroda Gaon, Naroda Patiya and Sardarpura.
Raghavan, a former CBI director, hoped that the trials of the cases in question will be concluded in less than a year. "I cannot give a fixed deadline. I can only say that no time will be lost. I am hoping that these (trials) will come to a conclusion in about less than a year," he said.
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