Author: Times News Network
Publication: The Times of India
Date: April 29, 2009
A day after the Supreme Court directed a Special
Investigation Team (SIT) to probe into the alleged role of CM Narendra Modi
in the 2002 post-Godhra riots, a PIL sought to draw a parallel between the
Gujarat riots and the 1984 anti-Sikh riots seeking parallel treatment by the
judiciary.
The petition filed by advocate M S Butalia
said the SC has handled the Gujarat riot cases with singular motive to bring
to book the alleged perpetrators of the mayhem and requested it to take up
the hundreds of anti-Sikh riots cases pending in various courts for 25 years
without there being any justice to the victims and their families.
The PIL, filed through advocate Harshvir Pratap
Singh, was also categoric that pendency of the anti-Sikh riot cases for 25
years made a mockery of the criminal justice system that should equally protect
the victims and the right of the accused for a speedy trial.
If the accused are guilty, they should be
punished or else they be let off, the PIL said while seeking an independent
probe into the anti-Sikh riot cases on the line similar to one being conducted
by SIT under ex-CBI director R K Raghavan into the Gujarat riot cases.
Butalia pleaded that after a free and fair
probe into the anti-Sikh riot cases, the trial should be conducted by public
prosecutors appointed in consultation with the families of the victims.