New Delhi: Taking serious exception to the manner in which the cases pertaining to riots were proceeding, the Supreme Court today (Nov 21) stayed the trial in 10 cases and asked the Gujarat Government to state in two weeks as to why they be not transferred outside.

A Bench headed by Chief Justice V N Khare ordered this stay. The Court appointed amicus curiae Harish Salve to assist in the petitions filed by National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) and others. Salve pointed out that due to serious lapses on the part of Public Prosecutors, most of the accused in serious cases of manslaughter were enlarged on bail.

The ten cases arose from the incidents of Godhra train carnage, Naroda Patiya massacre, Gulbarga massacre, Sardarpura massacre and the killing of several persons at Ode when the state was engulfed by communal riots last year.

"If the allegations made are true, it is a serious matter and it is a fit case for transferring the trials outside the State", the Bench said. It asked the State to give details of acquittals and appeals filed by the Government in riot cases within two weeks while posting the matter for further hearing on December 19.

The Bench comprising Justice Khare, Justice S B Sinha and Justice AR Lakshmanan said it was the duty of the State Government to take effective steps to prosecute the accused and wondered "how many times do the Gujarat Government needed to be lectured on this aspect".

PTI