Saturday, November 19 2005 18:45 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

Gujarat: The Godhra inquiry commission today decided to issue summons to the Secretary of the high- powered Justice Banerjee Committee to produce vital documents and reports regarding its finding of the fire in the S-6 coach of Sabarmati Express on February 2002.

The Nanavati-Shah Commission also expressed its displeasure over what it termed as the Banerjee Committees "reluctance" to part with the vital documents in this regard. The summons is returnable in two week's time.

The Godhra Commission decided to send the summons to the secretary of the Banerjee Committee when the latter did not part with vital documents which the commission wanted.

Taking a strong note of the Committee's "reluctance" in sending these crucial papers, the Commission Chairman (retd) Nanavati said "it is difficult to appreciate that the Committee has not (not) been able to provide the said documents and it was not (not) possible for them to make copies available to this Commission with so many equipments."

The Banerjee committee had sent copy of the interim report but not several other documents which the Godhra Commission wanted. The summons is returnable by December 9, 2005.

The Union Cabinet had constituted Justice U C Banerjee committee on September four, 2004 to probe the fire in the S-6 coach of Sabarmati Express on February 27, 2002 in which which 59 kar sevaks were killed. One of the main terms of reference of Banerjee committee was to ascertain the cause of the fire in the coach S-6, fix responsibilities for it and recommended suitable measures to prevent such an incident.