A section of officers watching the developments closely are of the opinion that vesting the power with the amicus curiae will reduce the powers of SIT
Could the apex court's move to not take Sanjiv Bhatt's affidavit on record for now be the beginning of the end of the special investigation team (SIT)?
A section of officers watching the developments closely are of the opinion that vesting the power with the amicus curiae will reduce the powers of SIT as the onus has now shifted.
"The amicus curiae Raju Ramchandaran has been assigned the responsibility to analyse the accusation by Bhatt on SIT and accordingly provide his report to the apex court. This indicates that SIT has been marginalised and its powers clipped," the source said.
The current order may also be considered as a mechanism by the apex court to know who is correct and who is incorrect.
"When there are variety of accusations and so many parties connected, this can be understood as the best mechanism in the way to justice," the source said.
The Supreme Court, while taking up further the report of the SIT submitted to the court on April 25, 2011, observed that the report has been submitted by the SIT as directed by the court which may be handed over to the amicus curiae.
Reacting to the order, IPS officer Sanjiv Bhatt said that, "I am a serving IPS officer and not a party to the present proceedings and I believe my affidavit would disclose facts which could be crucial," he told DNA. However, he refused to comment further on the issue.
Meanwhile, an official statement by the Gujarat government said that the Supreme Court desired the amicus curiae to examine the report and submit his opinion with specific suggestions. However, the SC has currently declined to take Bhatt's affidavit on record.
The Supreme Court observed that the amicus curiae may consider the report and if he thinks fit he may take assistance of any witness whose statement has been recorded by the SIT.
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