Best Bakery judge declines GEB post

Fast track court Judge H U Mahida, who had acquitted all the 21 accused in the Best Bakery case, has declined an offer of the post of honorary legal advisor to the Gujarat Electricity Board (GEB), citing personal reasons.

Mahida said he had sent his letter of refusal to the electricity board on June 5.

"I am old and this job involves a lot of strenuous work including everything related to legality of tenders and matters of staff administration," Mahida said.

"Since GEB is going to be split into six companies, the work load will be even more," he said.

Mahida was earlier the additional district and sessions judge, member of railway tribunal from 1994 to 99 and was appointed as fast track court Judge in January 2002.

Mahida said he wanted to "enjoy retired life".

"I may also go to my native place at Rajpipla, near Sardar Sarovar dam in nearby Narmada district," he said.

Mahida said he had applied for the post and was interviewed by top GEB officials after which he was appointed.

Member of GEB administration Guruprasad Mohapatra said Mahida was appointed after due procedure in which five of the 12 applicants were shortlisted. The post had been lying vacant for the last two years. Fourteen persons had been charred to death in Best Bakery on March 1, 2002.

The Supreme Court has ordered a re-trial in the case outside Gujarat.

The Best Baker massacre took place in the aftermath of the Godhra train carnage.