In a relief to the Gujarat Chief Minister, Mr Narendra Modi, the Gujarat High Court has rejected a petition seeking directions to the Nanavati Commission to summon him for questioning in connection with the 2002 riots case.
A Division Bench of Mr Justice Akil Kureshi and Ms Justice Sonia Gokani, while rejecting the application of NGO Jan Sangarsh Manch, observed that the commission has larger discretionary powers to call the witnesses.
The court further said that it did not find any substance in its application seeking directions for summoning Mr Modi.
Jan Sangarsh Manch, representing some riot victims, had approached the High Court for directing the commission to call Mr Modi for questioning after the Commission of Mr Justice G.T. Nanavati and Mr Justice Akshay Mehta, probing the 2002 riot cases had rejected its plea regarding the same.
Jan Sangarsh Manch’s lawyer Mr Mukul Sinha had submitted in the court that Mr Modi should be summoned by the commission as the role of the Chief Minister falls within the ambit of the probe panel’s inquiry.
The State Government itself, in new terms of reference announced in 2005, had given the probe panel the liberty to examine the conduct of the Chief Minister, Mr Sinha stated.
There are many questions related to riots that can be answered only by the Chief Minister, he said.