Supreme Court orders expeditious trial of 11 anti-Sikh riot cases in Kanpur

The Supreme Court on Monday ordered the expeditious trial of 11 cases related to the 1984 anti-Sikh riots in Kanpur, Uttar Pradesh, in which chargesheets were filed after reinvestigation.

The Bench of Justices Surya Kant and N Kotiswar Singh underlined an “inordinate delay” in the matter and ordered expeditious trial.

Advocate Ruchira Goel, appearing for the UP Government, said a 40-year-old illegible FIR in a Kanpur anti-Sikh riots case was forwarded to the Central Forensic Science Laboratory (CFSL) to re-trace its contents, but the laboratory was yet to give a report.

The Bench directed the CFSL to expedite the process and submit its report at the earliest. Goel referred to the trial being underway with the examination of witnesses in a related case.

The counsel appearing for the Delhi Sikh Gurdwara Management Committee said some accused moved the HC and obtained a stay on the proceedings.

The top court was hearing a plea for reopening the case regarding the killing of around 130 Sikhs in Kanpur during the riots.