M A I N   N E W S

Intervene in ’84 riots case, NHRC urged
T.R. Ramachandran
Tribune News Service

New Delhi, September 18
The National Commission for Minorities (NCM) has urged the National Human Rights Commission to intervene in the November 1984 Delhi riots case as it did in the Best Bakery case in Gujarat.

NCM Chairman Tarlochan Singh urged the NHRC to make a special appeal to the Supreme Court to constitute courts to probe the 1984 anti-Sikh carnage.

The NHRC held a special meeting here today to acquaint itself with the case of the Sikh victims of the riots and the action taken on the NCM’s letter of April 23 about the disappearance of Jathedar Gurdev Singh Kaunke of the Akal Takht as well as that of Paramjeet Singh from Mohali.

In a letter to the NHRC chairman, Mr Justice A.S. Anand, Mr Tarlochan Singh said he was aware that the commission could not take up old cases but maintained that the anti-Sikh riots of 1984 were a “black spot on the face of Indian democracy.”

Observing that the judiciary was equally responsible — along with the Delhi Government — for not providing justice to the victims, Mr Tarlochan Singh said: “I officially request you to intervene in this case so that the culprits can be punished and the victims are given proper compensation not only in Delhi but all over the country where such incidents took place.”

Mr Tarlochan Singh said the NHRC could make a special appeal to the Supreme Court to order the setting up of “special courts for the 1984 anti-Sikh carnage.” He said the NHRC could call the Chief Secretaries of Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Madhya Pradesh, Jharkhand and Chhattisgarh to furnish a list of the Sikhs killed in 1984, along with the quantum of compensation paid.

The NCM Chairperson maintained that this would help as under the NHRC’s order, the state governments would have to take up the 1984 anti-Sikh riots case.

About the disappearance of the former acting head of the Akal Takht, Mr Tarlochan Singh said in a separate communication to Mr Justice Anand that the NHRC should direct the Punjab Government to submit the inquiry report.