The Supreme Court on Friday named two of its former Judges - Justices (Retd) JM Panchal and KS Radhakrishnan to examine all cases relating to 1984 riots where investigation was closed following a recommendation made by a Special Investigation Team probing the matter.
The two Judges will form part of a supervisory body that will examine whether the cases were rightly closed and submit its report to the apex court in three months, beginning September 5. Almost 199 cases were closed by the SIT
investigating the anti-Sikh riots cases.
In its order, the Bench headed by Chief Justice Dipak Misra said, “We constitute a supervisory body of two former judges of this court, namely, Justice JM Panchal and Justice KSP Radhakrishnan, who shall scrutinise the 199 matters which have been closed and express the view whether there was justification to close the cases.” The Bench, also comprising Justices Amitava Roy and A M Khanwilkar, noted that the panel would also examine the justification behind the SIT's decision to close 42 other riots related cases.
“The supervisory body is requested to file a report within three months. The said supervisory body shall be given requisite assistance, which the Union of India shall provide. The supervisory body shall start functioning from September 5, 2017. The members of the said body shall get all the financial benefits as permissible in law,” the Bench added.