The Nanavati Commission, probing the Gujarat riots, has been given a further extension and has now been asked to submit its report by December 31, 2010. This is the 14th extension that the commission has sought.
The extension came in after the Gujarat high court on Thursday asked the government pleader to furnish status report on Nanavati Commission’s work, while hearing petition seeking cross-examination of Gujarat chief minister Narendra Modi and three others in connection with the 2002 riots.
A division bench of Chief Justice S.J. Mukhopadhaya and Justice Akil Kureshi, hearing the petition, adjourned the matter till June 25 after the government pleader sought time for collecting information from the commission, whose tenure was likely to expire on June 30.
The commission probing the 2002 riots comprises Retd Justice G.T. Nanavati and Retd Justice Akshay Mehta.
The petition being heard was filed by Jan Sangarsh Manch (JSM), an NGO representing some of the post-Godhra riot victims.
The Nanavati Commission had told high court during the last hearing in the matter on April 1, that its decision of September, 2009, of not summoning Mr Modi was “not final”.
Lawyer representing JSM, Mukul Sinha, had then requested the court that in case Nanavati Commission does not call Mr Modi by June 17, then the court could pass appropriate orders in this regard.