New Delhi: Justice G T Nanavati, heading the two-member commission to probe last year's Gujarat riots, on May 18 said the evidence recorded so far did not indicate any serious lapse on the part of the police or administration in controlling the communal clashes that followed the Godhra mayhem.

The commission, which has completed the task of recording evidence in all the areas except the most- affected Ahmedabad and Vadodara, as also Bharuch and Narmada, would begin its last leg of recording evidence from July 15 in the four districts.

Asked about the evidence so far collected on the role of police and district administrations, justice Nanavati said, "The evidence recorded so far in other districts do not show any serious lapse on the part of police and the civil administration."

Going through the strenuous process of visiting each and every district headquarters of the affected areas, the commission had given time to one and all to file additional affidavits on the alleged incidents that had taken place in their locality in February-March last year.

"An additional opportunity has been given to those who have missed the opportunity to file the affidavit and to all concerned to say whatever they want to say before the commission on the incidents," Justice Nanavati said.

Prior to recording the evidence in Ahmedabad and Vadodara, the two cities most affected in the riots, the commission will complete the task in Bharuch and Narmada, he said.

Asked about the role of Army in controlling the riots, Justice Nanavati said that the Sikhs have contended that the Army was not deployed timely and adequately, otherwise riots could have been controlled quite early.

He said the witnesses before the commission had said that Army had performed its duties well, but it was a lapse on the part of civil administration not to call them in time resulting in large scale rioting and loss of lives.

Giving a tentative time-table of the commission's work in the coming months, the retired Supreme Court judge said the section 8 (b) notices would be out by August and the consequent proceedings of recording the statements of the officials summoned would be over by end of October.

He said it would take 15 to 20 days for finalising the report and then its printing work would be undertaken. The report would be ready for submission by December this year, he added.

PTI