By IANS,
New Delhi : The Delhi Hight Court Wednesday sought a detailed response from the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) on whether its guidelines for conducting a magisterial inquiry into last year’s Sep 19 Batla House shootout could be followed despite the government’s reluctance.
“What is your stand on conducting inquiry in the case? Would you allow your guidelines not to be followed if the executive (government) decides against it?” a bench headed by Chief Justice Ajit Prakash Shah and Justice Sanjeev Khanna said when the rights body remarked that the Delhi lieutenant governor has decided against holding a magisterial inquiry into the case.
The court asked the NHRC to give the status report on the complaint filed before it questioning the genuiness of the shootout and slated the matter for March 18.
The court was hearing a public interest petition filed by an NGO – Act Now For Harmony and Democracy – seeking a judicial inquiry into the Sep 19, 2008 firefight, in which two suspected terrorists, allegedly involved in the Sep 13 Delhi serial bombings, were killed.
Delhi Police gunned down two suspected Indian Mujahideen terrorists, Atif Ameen and Mohammed Sajid, in a gun battle and arrested Mohammed Saif and Zeeshan for the serial bombings in the capital.
The Batla House shootout took place a week after serial bombings rocked the capital killing 26 people and injuring 13 others.