Voicing happiness over the Supreme Court order on the Gujarat riots cases, apex court- appointed Special Investigation Team (SIT) chief R K Raghavan today hoped that the trials of the cases in question will be concluded in less than a year.
"I cannot give a fixed deadline. I can only say that no time will be lost. I am hoping that these (trials) will come to a conclusion in about less than a year," he told reporters here.
He was responding to questions after the Supreme Court lifted the stay on the trials of the 2002 Gujarat riots cases and directed the setting up of fast track courts for holding them on a day-to-day basis.
The court had stayed the trials on November 21, 2003.Raghavan, a former CBI director, said, "I am certainly happy with the judgement. I think it is going to facilitate the work of the SIT in Gujarat. I look forward to further work in that direction".
Noting that it is "very humbling" to know that the apex court has reposed "so much trust in me", he said he was aware of the nature of his responsibilities and that he would ensure "due protection" to the witnesses.
The BJP was quick to welcome the court decision. The issue has been "politicised" for long and by ordering trial in Gujarat, the apex court has reposed faith in the administrative and judicial system in the state, party spokesman Balbir Punj said.
Voicing its apprehensions, the Congress said with Narendra Modi being the Chief Minister, the witnesses will have fear. "They will be frightened to depose objectively" for a fair trial, party spokesman Veerappa Moily said.
These concerns needed to be addressed by the judiciary, particularly the Gujarat High Court, he said.Arming the SIT with sweeping powers, the court said it would be open to the SIT chairman to seek change of public prosecutors if any deficiency was found during the trial.
The SIT can make a request to the Advocate General of the state on the appointment of assistant public prosecutors to assist the public prosecutors, it said.
The apex court also gave liberty to the SIT to recommend the cancellation of bail if it is considered necessary. The Court said that the SIT will act as a nodal agency to decide as to which witnesses in the case should be given protection and relocated. The court said that it would be for the Central para-military forces to provide security for the witnesses. The Central Government has been asked to make arrangements if relocation of witnesses was required.
To avoid any unruly scenes during the trial process, the court will have to be stern, the Bench noted.It gave liberty to the SIT to approach the apex Court at any stage for redressal of any grievances.The SIT, which has investigated 10 cases including the Godhra train burning and subsequent riots cases, had submitted its report before the apex court in March.
The apex court had on March 26, 2008, constituted SIT which besides Raghavan as its head has former DG of UP Police C D Satpathy and three IPS officers from Gujarat Geeta Johri, Shivanand Jha and Ashish Bhatia as its members.
The SIT was asked to "inquire and investigate" cases relating to Godhra carnage in which 59 people were killed and subsequent riots in places like Godhra, Gulbarg Society in Ahmedabad, Naroda Gaon, Naroda Patiya and Sardarpura.
Raghavan, a former CBI director, hoped that the trials of the cases in question will be concluded in less than a year. "I cannot give a fixed deadline. I can only say that no time will be lost. I am hoping that these (trials) will come to a conclusion in about less than a year," he said.
