1984 riots: SC seeks police report on appeals challenging acquittals

The Supreme Court on Monday sought a fresh report from the Delhi Police on the status of appeals challenging acquittals in the 1984 anti-Sikh riots as it questioned why the refusal by the Delhi high court to reopen cases was not challenged in the top court.

- Abraham Thomas

NEW DELHI:

Going through a status report submitted by the Centre and the Delhi Police last month, a bench headed by justice Abhay S Oka said, "We find from the report that the high court has dismissed several cases. You (Delhi Police) have not challenged it here. A large number of cases are there. You take instructions."

The court was responding to a status report filed on January 13 by the police highlighting the status of eight cases where a special investigation team (SIT) headed by former Delhi high court judge, justice (retd) SN Dhingra, recommended filing of appeals.

When the case was last heard on January 27, this report was not available to the court, and the matter got adjourned.

On Monday, senior advocate HS Phoolka, who represented petitioner S Gurlad Singh Kahlon, informed the court that the recommendations of the SIT were not honoured as special leave petitions (SLP) challenging the dismissal orders by the high court were filed only in two cases.

The bench, also comprising of justice Ujjal Bhuyan, said, "We find that the orders dismissing these appeals were passed by the high court in August and October of 2024."