Gulbarg case: Special court rejects plea to stay trial

The special court hearing the Gulbarg society massacre case on Friday rejected the plea of the victims to stay the trial till the Supreme Court-appointed special investigation team (SIT) submitted its final report.

However, Judge BJ Dhandha, who is hearing the case, rejected the plea saying that the SC had stayed pronouncement of verdict in the case but had not asked not to continue with the trial.

He added that SC had not set a time limit for the SIT to submit its report. In such circumstances, the proceedings cannot be stayed, Judge Dhandha said. He, however, said that the SIT had said it would soon submit its final report in the appropriate court. Staying the trial even after this assurance would not be in the interest of the case, the judge said.

When the victims' plea was rejected, their advocate, SM Vohra, sought a stay on the court's order to approach the high court. The court refused to stay its order and asked Vohra to file a revision application against its order. The judge, however, said that while the arguments are on, the lawyer can approach the Gujarat high court.

On November 11, Judge Dhandha had directed the SIT to submit a copy of its final report on Jakia Jafri's petition before the trial court even as it submits it to the magisterial court. On the same day, Vohra had filed an application to stay the trial of the case till the SIT submitted its report.

After Friday’s hearing, the victims said they would move Gujarat high court against the trial court's order.