SIT may move SC for lifting stay on judgement in Godhra cases

AHMEDABAD: With the trial in 2002 Godhra train burning coming to an end, the Special Investigation Team was planning to approach the Supreme Court which had in May last restrained trial courts from pronouncing judgement in the cases probed afresh by the agency.

The agency members are contemplating filing a petition in the apex court seeking lifting of the stay on pronouncement of verdict in the nine cases - the train carnage and eight post-Godhra riot cases - probed by the Supreme Court-appointed team, according to SIT officials.

"The trial in the case (Godhra carnage) has just completed," SIT chief R K Raghavan, who is likely to file quarterly progress report on the cases in the Supreme Court soon, said on Wednesday.

Asked if SIT was planning to approach the SC to vacate the stay, the former CBI director declined to comment.

K G Menon, SIT counsel, when contacted, said, "I am not authorised to comment on the issue."

However, officials in the SIT said opinion from legal advisors had been sought on the issue.

In May this year, while dealing with a bunch of petitions of NGO Citizen for Justice and Peace and some rights activists, demanding a stay on trial in the riot cases for alleged lapses, the SC asked the courts to proceed with trial but restrained them from delivering judgement.