Anti-Sikh riots: 3-member SIT formed to supervise probe into 186 cases | Latest News India - Hindustan Times
close_game
close_game

Anti-Sikh riots: 3-member SIT formed to supervise probe into 186 cases

Press Trust of India, New Delhi | ByPress Trust of India
Jan 11, 2018 05:08 PM IST

Former Delhi High Court judge Justice SN Dhingra, serving IPS officer Abhishek Dular and retired IG rank officer Rajdeep Singh will be part of the SIT.

The Supreme Court set up a three-member special investigation team (SIT) headed by former Delhi High Court judge Justice SN Dhingra to supervise further probe into 186 anti-Sikh riot cases.

A television journalist sets his camera inside the premises of the Supreme Court in New Delhi. The top court has the SIT to submit its status report in two months.(Reuters File)
A television journalist sets his camera inside the premises of the Supreme Court in New Delhi. The top court has the SIT to submit its status report in two months.(Reuters File)

Besides Justice Dhingra, serving IPS officer Abhishek Dular and retired IG rank officer Rajdeep Singh would be part of the SIT, which has been asked by a bench headed by Chief Justice Dipak Misra to submit its status report in two months.

Hindustan Times - your fastest source for breaking news! Read now.

The matter will be heard next on March 19.

The top court had yesterday held that the previous SIT had not carried out further probe into these 186 cases in which closure reports were filed, and directed setting up of a fresh SIT comprising a former High Court judge and two police officers.

Large-scale riots had broken out in the national capital in the aftermath of the assassination of then Prime Minister Indira Gandhi by two Sikh security guards on the morning of October 31, 1984. The violence had claimed 2,733 lives in Delhi alone.

The bench, also comprising Justices AM Khanwilkar and D Y Chandrachud, had yesterday said “we have perused the report of the Supervisory Committee. On perusal of the same, we find that the SIT has not done further investigation in respect of 186 cases.”

It had said that with regard to the nature of cases, “it would be appropriate that a fresh SIT should be constituted for carrying on the further investigation”.

The earlier supervisory body, which had submitted its final report, had comprised former apex court judges Justice J M Panchal and Justice KSP Radhakrishnan.

On August 16 last year, the apex court had appointed the supervisory panel to examine the SIT’s decision to close 241 cases in the 1984 anti-Sikh riots matter.

The Centre had said that out of 250 riots cases which were probed by the SIT, closure reports were filed in 241. It had said nine cases were still being investigated by the SIT and two being probed by the CBI.

The apex court had on March 24, 2017, asked the Centre to place before it the files pertaining to the 199 anti-Sikh riots cases which the SIT set up earlier by the Home Ministry had decided to close.

The SIT was headed by Pramod Asthana, an IPS officer of 1986 batch, and had Rakesh Kapoor, a retired district and sessions judge, and Kumar Gyanesh, an additional deputy commissioner of Delhi Police, as its members.

Petitioner S Gurlad Singh Kahlon had earlier told the bench that a total of 293 riot-related cases were taken up for scrutiny by the earlier SIT which had decided to close 199 of them after scrutiny.

Kahlon, a member of the Delhi Sikh Gurdwara Management Committee, had sought the court’s direction for setting up another SIT to ensure speedy justice to the riot victims.

Unveiling Elections 2024: The Big Picture', a fresh segment in HT's talk show 'The Interview with Kumkum Chadha', where leaders across the political spectrum discuss the upcoming general elections. Watch now!

Get Current Updates on India News, Election 2024, Arvind Kejriwal News Live, Bihar Board 10th Result 2024 Live along with Latest News and Top Headlines from India and around the world.
SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON
Share this article
SHARE
Story Saved
Live Score
OPEN APP
Saved Articles
Following
My Reads
Sign out
New Delhi 0C
Thursday, March 28, 2024
Start 14 Days Free Trial Subscribe Now
Follow Us On