Search the Internet          Tips

SC stays proceedings before Gujarat HC on PIL against NHRC

The Supreme Court on Tuesday stayed all proceedings before the Gujarat high court on a Public Interest Litigation challenging the jurisdiction of National Human Rights Commission to probe into the recent communal riots.

A bench comprising Chief Justice S P Bharucha, Justice N Santosh Hegde and Justice D M Dharmadhikari passed the stay order after briefly hearing counsel for the Commission, Nikhil Nayar.

Nayar contended that recently an application has been moved before the high court seeking to restrain NHRC from proceeding further with its probe into the riots.

The Supreme Court, while staying all further proceedings before the high court in the case, issued notices to the petitioners, Gujarat government and the Centre.

The high court on March 27 had issued notices to NHRC, the Gujarat government and the Centre on a PIL filed by Ahmedabad-based Karuna Public Charitable Trust challenging the jurisdiction of the Commission under Section 36 of the Protection of Human Rights Commission Act to intervene in violence-torn state.

The high court had fixed April eight for further hearing of the PIL.

The PIL sought direction that the NHRC or its chairman should not be allowed to investigate and intervene in the circumstances that led to widespread violence in Gujarat, especially after the appointment of the K G Shah Commission by the state government to probe Godhra train carnage.

The Sabarmati in Flames: Complete Coverage

Back to top

Tell us what you think of this report