HC told to probe pleas on Gujarat riots

The Court directed its Registry to give all assistance to the ASJ on the basis of whose report, it would proceed.

The Supreme Court on Tuesday asked the Delhi High Court to suggest the name of an Additional Sessions Judge to examine the material placed before it by NHRC and certain NGOs who have sought re-investigation and transfer of about 13 Gujarat riot cases outside the state.

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A bench of Justice KG Balakrishnan, Justice Tarun Chatterjee and Justice DK Jain requested the Chief Justice of Delhi High Court to give the name of an ASJ who would examine the voluminous material and give a brief report to the apex court in four weeks.

The Court directed its Registry to give all assistance to the ASJ on the basis of whose report, it would proceed to decide whether to order reinvestigation and transfer of trial in these cases.

The bench left it open to the ASJ to seek clarification from the counsel appearing for the State of Gujarat, NHRC, NGOs and the accused in finalisation of the report.

However, it declined the plea of amicus curiae Harish Salve for placing of additional material before the ASJ after senior counsel Mukul Rohtagi objected to it.