NEW DELHI, Oct 3 — The Delhi Government and the Delhi Police, accused of gross failure in maintaining law and order in the aftermath of Indira Gandhi’s assassination on October 31, 1984, today failed to appear before Justice G.T. Nanawati Commission, set up by the NDA government to probe into the 1984 anti-Sikh riots.

“If the Delhi Government and the Delhi Police do not appear on their own summons will be issued to them,” Justice Nanawati said.

The commission on the first day of its working discussed with parties the procedure to be followed by the commission for conducting the inquiry into the massacre of at least 3000 Sikhs.

The commission said it had so far received more than 6000 affidavits from the riot victims and would also consider 3,700 affidavits filed before Ranganath Mishra Commission, appointed by the government earlier to go into the circumstances that led to the riots.

The commission said it might hold its sittings in Kanpur and Bokaro from where a large number of affidavits were received. After Delhi, Kanpur and Bokaro were the two cities worst affected by the riots.

On compensation to riot victims, the commission said, “it will not decide individual applications in this regard. Neither will it recommend the quantum of compensation on any individual’s claim as it is not part of the terms and conditions.”

However, general recommendations would be given to the government on the issue so that it could decide on the amount of compensation, the commission added.

The commission said the procedure would be published in all major newspapers within two weeks and no application filed after October 16 would be entertained.

Posting the next hearing for October 30, the commission said all applications filed by October 16, would be taken up for hearing on the next date.

The commission today took into account the suggestions given by various persons, who appeared before it. Prominent among them were former Punjab and Haryana High Court Chief Justice H.S. Narula, former Delhi High Court Chief Justice Rajinder Sachar, former Delhi High Court Judge Jaspal Singh, senior advocate H.S. Phoolka for “November 84 Carnage Justice Committee” and the Centre’s counsel Ashok Kashyap.

The “November 84 Carnage Justice Committee” in its application claimed that more than 4,000 innocent Sikhs were killed in the Capital during the riots and properties worth several crore rupees were damaged.

“Strangely enough, when the Sikhs were being brutally massacred, the law enforcing agencies neglected to control the mobs and failed to take appropriate measures. The government functionaries conveniently slept over the incidents,” it said.

The committee comprising several eminent personalities like former Supreme Court and High Court Judges, lawyers, journalists and social activists, alleged the police and other law enforcing agencies “unashamedly either connived” with the mobs or were part of them.