By TwoCircles.net staff reporter,
New Delhi: The Gujarat government seems to be adamant to trial the Godhra train carnage accused under repealed POTA law despite unfavorable verdicts and observations on its move from various constitutional bodies including the Supreme Court.
On the 7th anniversary of the Godhra train carnage on Friday, the state government moved the Supreme Court challenging the recent Gujarat High Court’s decision against the application of POTA in this case.
The Gujarat High Court on this February 12 gave verdict that the Godhra train burning was not an act of terrorism, so POTA cannot be applied. The court upheld the recommendation of the Central POTA Review Committee to drop POTA charges against the accused, and dismissed a petition challenging the Committee’s recommendation.
In October last year, the Supreme Court had held that the findings of the Central POTA Review Committee to drop the charges under the repealed law would be binding on the government and the designated court. The apex court passed the verdict on a bunch of petitions filed by family members of Godhra train carnage accused.
The Supreme Court, however, has agreed to hear the latest application of the Gujarat government challenging the Gujarat High Court order. The case will be heard on March 6.
On February 27, 2002, the coach S-6 of the Sabarmati Express carrying karsevaks was burnt from inside killing 58 people near Godhra Railway Station. The incident was followed by the most organized pogrom in the country, killing about 2000 Muslims and displacing lakhs others.