Details of Jhadapia’s deposition before riots panel sought

GANDHINAGAR - The Gujarat High Court Wednesday questioned the state government on the nature of deposition of former Gujarat minister Gordhan Jhadapia before the Justice G.T. Nanavati-Akshay Mehta Commission probing the 2002 Godhra train carnage and the communal riots that followed it.

The bench comprising Chief Justice S.J. Mukhopadhaya and Justice Akil Kureshi passed a written order directing the state government to clarify about the former minister’s deposition.

During the hearing, Advocate General Kamal Trivedi informed the court that he was not aware under what provisions the commission had summoned the former minister.

After his submission, the court passed the written order.

The court sought to know whether Jhadapia was summoned by the commission as a witness or a person against whom it had found some material.

Under the provisions of the Commission of Enquiries Act, the probe panel can call a person for deposition if it finds some material against him or her and seek a clarification.

Advocate Mukul Sinha, appearing for NGO Jan Sangharsh Manch, submitted that they had a right to know the nature of Jhadapia’s deposition.

Sinha said the commission had rejected their application seeking to summon Jhadapia before the panel for deposition and to cross examine him.

He said Jhadapia appeared before the commission after the rejection of their application and they had a right to know the provisions under which he was summoned.

The commission Nov 19 held an in-camera questioning of Jhadapia.

The first part of the commission’s report on the Godhra train carnage has been submitted to the government and tabled in the assembly.

The panel is now probing various aspects of post-Godhra riots in which more than 1,000 people were killed.