The Special Investigation Team appointed by the Supreme Court to investigate some of the gruesome carnages during the 2002 communal riots in Gujarat, on Tuesday informed a special court hearing the Gulberg Society massacre case that it would submit its report to an “appropriate magisterial court” as directed by the apex court.
This was communicated to the special court of Judge B.J. Dhandha in a letter written by the SIT investigating officer of the Gulberg massacre case, Himanshu Shukla, and submitted to the court through Public Prosecutor R.C. Kodekar. He told the court that the Supreme Court had directed the SIT to submit its report before a “competent magisterial court” and the SIT would follow the instructions accordingly. The letter was written in response to a notice issued by the special court to the SIT earlier asking it to submit its reports to it as directed by the apex court.
The notice was issued after some riot victims submitted an application before the special court to direct the SIT to submit its report relating to the Gulberg massacre in the special courts.
The special courts to hear nine cases of gruesome massacres were constituted by the High Court at the behest of the apex court and sessions judge B.J. Dhandha was appointed in the court hearing the Gulberg massacre.
Advocate for the riot victims, S.M. Vora, raised strong objections to the SIT's letter, which virtually amounted to refusing to submit its report before the special court, and sought the court's permission to submit written objections against the letter. The special court has fixed the next hearing in the case on November 9 when Mr. Vora would argue against the SIT's letter.
