Anti-Sikh Riots: Justice Panchal And Justice Radhakrishnan To Scrutinize SIT Decision To Close 199 Cases

The Apex Court has named its former Judges, Justice J.M. Panchal and Justice K.S. Radhakrishnan as members of the supervisory panel appointed by it to scrutinize the Special Investigation Team’s decision to close 199 cases in the 1984 anti-Sikh riots case, reports the Tribune.

The panel will also examine the SIT’s decision to close additional 42 riots-related cases. It will begin working from 5 September, and is expected to submit its report within three months. The Centre will provide “requisite assistance” to the panel members, who will get “all financial benefits as permissible in law”.

The Supreme Court had, on 16 August, appointed the supervisory body, while hearing a PIL filed by the Sikh Gurdwara Prabandhak Committee member S. Gurlad Singh Kahlon, seeking various directions to the SIT for speedy justice to the victims of 1984 riots.

The decision to examine the 199 cases which were closed by the SIT 32 years ago was taken by the Apex Court on 24 March. It had then directed the Home Ministry to place on record the files pertaining to these cases for examination.

At that time, the then Attorney General Mukul Rohatgi had referred to the SIT report from the Home Ministry and had informed the Court that in total, 293 cases were taken up by the SIT, out of which 199 cases were closed after scrutiny.