Godhra riots: Gujarat HC flays Modi govt inaction

Coming down heavily on the Gujarat government, the state High Court on Wednesday criticised the Narendra Modi dispensation for inaction and negligence during the post-Godhra riots in 2002.

A bench observed that the administration’s “inadequate response and inaction (to contain the riots) resulted in an anarchic situation which continued unabated for days on”.

Acting Chief Justice Bhaskar Bhattacharya and Justice JB Pardiwala upheld a public interest litigation filed by the Islami Relief Committee Gujarat to get repaired or reconstructed the places of worship that were damaged fully or partially during the riots. The judges ordered compensation for over 500 religious structures damaged in the state during that period.

The Modi government, in its argument, had informed the court that it was under no obligation to provide compensation to these places of worship.

“The state cannot shirk from its responsibilities,” the court observed, while noting that there has also been “negligence” on the part of the government.

“Because of this (such inaction and negligence) there was largescale destruction of religious properties.” The court also set up a committee of principal judges of 26 districts of the state to decide about releasing compensation to such places of worship in their respective districts. These judges have been asked to send their decisions to HC within six months.

In its order, the court maintained that the government should pay compensation for religious structures as well, as it had paid compensation for destruction of houses and commercial establishments.

This February 27 will mark 10 years of the Godhra train carnage. The incident triggered widespread violence and destruction in several parts of the state, killing 1,200 people.