1984 anti-Sikh riots case: SC asks Centre to file rejoinder, sets four-week deadline

The Supreme Court on Tuesday directed the Centre to file a rejoinder in the 1984 anti-Sikh riots case.

Taking up a petition filed by a member of Delhi Gurudwara Management Committee S Gurlad Singh Kahlon, a bench headed by Chief Justice of India Tirath Singh Thakur set a four-week deadline before the Union Government to file the rejoinder.

On January 27, hearing a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) filed by Kahlon, the apex court had asked the Centre to file a status report within two weeks on the Special Investigation Team (SIT) probe into the 1984 anti-Sikh riots in Delhi.

Kahlon had sought the court's directions to the SIT for speedy justice to the victims, including completion of task handed over to it within six months and report the progress of investigation on criminal cases relating to the massacre from time to time till the filing of charge sheets.

The petitioner said the SIT was formed by the government on February 12, 2015 for fresh probe into the 1984 riot cases and had got an extension for a year, however, there has been inordinate delay in prosecution of riot cases, and further delay would prejudice the trial.

More than 3,000 people were killed, of which 2,733 deaths were in Delhi alone, in the riots that broke out in retaliation to the assassination of former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi by her Sikh bodyguards on October 31, 1984.