Ms Zakia Jaffery files a Fresh Petition for SIT Report on Gujrat riots
19 Mar, 2012
Widow of the late MP Ehsan Jaffery, Ms Zakia Jaffery filed a fresh application in a local court seeking a copy of final report of Special Investigation Team on post-Godhra riots of 2002 on her complaint against Mr. Narendra Modi and others. Ms. Zakia has demanded in her plea that the Supreme Court-appointed agency's report be declared a public document.
Her earlier plea seeking a copy of the report last month was rejected on the ground that the SIT has not submitted its entire report.The SIT has submitted the entire report to the court in a sealed cover. The Metropolitan Magistrate M S Bhatt adjourned the hearing till 27th March 27 after the SIT sought time to file its reply. Two similar applications - filed by Jan Sangharsh Manch (JSM), an NGO, and one of the accused in the Gulburg Society riot case have also been deferred till 27th March.
It was claimed that being a complainant in the case Ms. Zakia has right to obtain a copy of the report at all stages as a documents under Section 74 of the Indian Evidence Act should be made public. It was also claimed that access to the report has been recognised under the Right to Information (RTI) Act.