The Supreme Court on Monday issued notice to the Nanavati Commission and the Gujarat government on a petition for summoning Chief Minister Narendra Modi to question him in connection with the 2002 communal riots.
A Bench of Justices D.K. Jain and A.K. Dave sought their response in four weeks, on the special leave petition by the Jan Sangharsh Manch against a Gujarat High Court order declining to entertain its plea.
Senior counsel Colin Gonsalves, appearing for the Manch, said Mr. Modi's role as Chief Minister fell within the ambit of the Commission's enquiry.
The Manch had filed an application before the Commission requesting it to issue summons to seven persons, including Mr. Modi, for inquiring into the role and conduct of the Chief Minister and/or any other Minister in his Council of Ministers, police officers and political and non-political organisations in the Godhra and post-Godhra incidents, which took place between February 27 and May 31, 2002.
The Commission, in its September 18, 2009 order, rejected the plea and this was upheld by the High Court.
In its SLP against this order, the Manch said that as the government itself had amended the terms of reference for inquiring into the role and conduct of the Chief Minister and/or any other Minister, police officers and political and non-political organisations, it was absolutely necessary to summon and examine the Chief Minister and other Ministers. Otherwise, the entire amended terms of reference would get nullified.
