New Delhi, February 3
The Delhi High Court today advised the CBI to be sensitive to the sentiments of the victims of the 1984 anti-Sikh riots and to consider the appointment of a special public prosecutor for expeditious disposal of their cases.
Describing the demand for a special public prosecutor, a Bench headed by Chief Justice AP Shah said, “You should respect the sentiments of the sufferers and advise your director to appoint a senior lawyer as public prosecutor. Don’t treat these cases as routine cases.”
In view of the historical background and the sentiments of the victims, there was need for a special public prosecutor on the lines of the action taken in Gujarat for the trial of the 2002 communal riots following the Godhra train fire, the court felt.
The Bench made the oral observations while hearing a PIL by an NGO (November 1984 Carnage Justice Committee) that has pleaded for special law officers. The court also felt that the CBI should not cite the number of cases it was handling as the reason for opposing the plea.
