New Delhi, Sept 25: The Supreme Court today ordered tagging of a host of PILs seeking independent probe into the Godhra carnage and subsequent riots in Gujarat with a petition filed by National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) seeking transfer of four riot cases outside the state for a fair trial.
A bench comprising Justice S Rajendra Babu and Justice A R Lakshmanan directed that the PILs filed by famous danseuse Mallika Sarabhai, Jnanpith Award winner Mahashweta Devi, Ad guru Alyque Padamsee and other social activists be listed before a bench headed by Chief Justice Of India, which was hearing the NHRC petition on Gujarat riots cases.
The bench headed by Chief Justice had taken a serious view of the manner in which the state government had handled the Best Bakery case appeal filed before the high court challenging acquittal of all 21 accused and had reminded the state government to observe "Raj Dharma".
The public interest litigants had alleged that the state government had failed to prevent the Godhra train carnage and the subsequent riots leading to targetting of the people from the minority community.
The petitioners had sought adequate compensation to the victims after proper assessment of damage to their property and action against the officials who failed in their duty to restrain the mob from indulging in arson and looting.

Bureau Report