Four SPPs appointed for post-Godhra riot cases

Appointments of four Special public prosecutors for post-Godhra riot cases, being probed by the Supreme Court appointed special investigation team, have been cleared, State Legal Department officials said.

Appointments of four Special public prosecutors (SPPs) for post-Godhra riot cases, being probed by the Supreme Court appointed special investigation team (SIT), have been cleared on Saturday, State Legal Department officials said.

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The names of SPPs, recommended by the SIT for each of the nine cases including the Godhra train carnage case, on Saturday reached the Leagal Department after apporoval by State Home Department, they said.

"We have received the names of SPPs and assitant prosecutors from the Home Departmment and we have cleared appointment of four of them," State Legal Secretary M S Shah told PTI.

"For each of the nine cases one SPP and one or two assistant prosecutors have been recommended based on the magnitude of the case," Shah said.

JM Panchal, CS Desai and SC Shah are the three of four who have been appointed as SSP.

With the appointment of the SPPs the stage is all set for the trials in the riot cases to begin.

The SC had on May 1 ordered that trials of the nine cases being probed by SIT be conducted on day-to-day basis in special designated courts.