Gujarat govt extends term of Nanavati commission till Dec 31

The Narendra Modi government has extended the term of Nanavati commission, probing the 2002 Gujarat riots, till December 31, 2010, the 14th time it has done so.

The step comes at a time when the Gujarat high court is hearing a petition by an NGO Jan Sangarsh Manch (JSM) seeking a direction to the commission, whose tenure was due to end on June 30, that it summon chief minister Modi for questioning.

The Nanavati commission had told the high court during the last hearing in the matter on April 1, that its decision of September, 2009, of not summoning Modi was "not final".

Today, the high court asked the government to furnish status report on Nanavati commission.

Modi has already been questioned in connection with 2002 riot, for over nine hours by the Supreme Court-appointed special investigation team (SIT) on March 27 following a complaint by one of the victims.

Officials of the commission said that they had received the extension letter couple of days ago from the state government. The term of commission comprising retired justice GT Nanavati and justice Akshay Mehta was last time extended till June 30.

Lawyer representing JSM, Mukul Sinha, had requested the court that in case the commission does not call Modi by June 17, then the court could pass appropriate orders in this regard.

The commission was appointed by the state government on March 3, 2002, under the Commission of Inquiry Act and comprised justice KG Shah. The probe panel was formed after wide-spread communal riots in the state in wake of the Godhra train burning incident on February 27, 2002.

The state government in May 2002, appointed retired justice GT Nanavati as chairman of the commission.

Initially, the terms of reference of the commission were to inquire into facts, circumstances and course of events that led to burning of the S6 coach of Sabarmati Express near Godhra railway station.

The terms of reference were further amended in June 2002 and the commission was also asked to inquire the incidents of violence that took place after the Godhra train burning incident.

The commission had, in September last year, disposed of JSM's plea asking for summoning of Modi, the then home minister Gordhan Zadafia, health minister Ashok Bhatt and DCP Zone 5, RJ Savani, saying they did not find justification in cross-examining them at that point of time for the purpose stated by JSM.

The commission had said in the order that allegation that Modi government aided and abetted 2002 riots made in JSM's application were vague and based upon wrong or unwarranted assumptions.

JSM had sought quashing of the Nanavati commission's order in the Gujarat high court and prayed that Modi and the three others be called for cross examination with regard to the 2002 riots.

In February this year, the commission had told the high court that it had completed analysis of evidences and statements and was likely to finish its report in 3-4 months time.

It had said the process of writing the report was likely to take 3-4 months and by that time they hope to complete it. The commission had also said it has probed about 4,145 cases which took place between February 27, 2002 and May 31, 2002.

In 2008, after the death of justice KG Shah, justice Akshay Mehta was appointed to the commission.