Friday, June 19, 2026
ADVT 
India

1984 Anti-Sikh Riots: Another HC Judge Recuses From Hearing Plea Against Sajjan Kumar

IANS, 13 Jul, 2017 01:24 PM
    A second Delhi High Court judge on Thursday recused himself from hearing Congress leader Sajjan Kumar in a 1984 anti-Sikh riots case.
     
    Earlier, a Judge on Monday recused to hear a plea seeking cancellation of anticipatory bail granted by the trial court to Sajjan Kumar in the case.
     
     
    Now, the case has gone to a third Judge in the Delhi High Court and will be heard on July 19.
     
     
    The Special Investigation Team (SIT) had approached the court seeking cancellation of the anticipatory bail granted by the trial court to Kumar.
     
     
    On June 10, the first Delhi High Court Judge recused himself from hearing Kumar's bail cancellation plea in connection with the riots, as the appearing advocate was his relative.
     
     
    Earlier in April, the Delhi High Court had re-opened five cases in connection with the 1984 anti-Sikh riots that were closed in 1986.
     
     
    The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) had also filed appeals against the acquittal of Kumar and light sentence to ex-councillor Balwan Khokar.
     
     
     
     
     The High Court had taken suo motu cognisance as during course of the arguments Kumar's lawyers mentioned these matters as precedents since co-accused Mahender Yadav, Balwan Khokar and Kishan Khokar had been acquitted in them.
     
     
    The court noted that eyewitnesses had not been examined in those cases and there was a "travesty" since investigation was not done properly.
     
     
    The court took suo motu cognisance of the "errors" in the 1986 trial judgment, adding that key eyewitnesses were not examined and cases were closed "very rapidly" seemingly without proper investigation and trial.
     
     
    The Bench passed this order after taking note of the trial court judgments passed in 1986 in the five cases.
     
     
    The apex court had also directed the Centre to deposit more than 190 files in connection with this case.
     
     
    Attorney General Mukul Rohatgi told the apex court that the SIT in as many as 263 cases had no case files and there was no trace of any victim or witness.
     
     
    On February 20, the Centre filed a status report in the top court on the investigation conducted by the SIT into anti-Sikh riots cases.
     
     
     
     
    Anti-Sikh riots that broke out after the assassination of then prime minister Indira Gandhi had claimed 2,433 lives in Delhi alone. 

    MORE India ARTICLES

    Officials remove 'Aam Aadmi' words from Delhi government schemes, cover Kejriwal's photos too

    Ahead of the April 23 municipal elections in the national capital, the Delhi Election Commission directed that the government in the capital remove the words "Aam" from all forms of display of its schemes. 

    Officials remove 'Aam Aadmi' words from Delhi government schemes, cover Kejriwal's photos too

    Yogi's Surprise Guests: Mulayam's Daughter-in-Law, BSP Leader

    Aparna Yadav, who unsuccessfully contested the Assembly election from the Lucknow Cantt seat, is Mulayam's younger daughter-in-law.

    Yogi's Surprise Guests: Mulayam's Daughter-in-Law, BSP Leader

    UP Women Cops Take Selfies With Gang-Raped Woman Who Was Made To Drink Acid

    UP Women Cops Take Selfies With Gang-Raped Woman Who Was Made To Drink Acid
    A 45-year-old woman was allegedly forced to drink acid on a train, but her misery did not end there as three women constables of the Uttar Pradesh police then took selfies with the victim, which went viral.

    UP Women Cops Take Selfies With Gang-Raped Woman Who Was Made To Drink Acid

    I Prayed For Death, Says Indian Soldier Who Strayed Into Pak

    I Prayed For Death, Says Indian Soldier Who Strayed Into Pak
    The Indian soldier who was returned by Pakistan after four months in captivity said he was so fed up with torture by Pakistanis that he often prayed for death while in their custody.

    I Prayed For Death, Says Indian Soldier Who Strayed Into Pak

    Irked By Kashmir Remark, India Gives It Back To Pak: Fight Terror

    Irked By Kashmir Remark, India Gives It Back To Pak: Fight Terror
    "Pakistan would be well-advised to effectively address the challenge of terrorism,"

    Irked By Kashmir Remark, India Gives It Back To Pak: Fight Terror

    Over 100 Policemen Suspended In Uttar Pradesh After New Government Takes Over

    Seeking to send a strong message that laxity in enforcing law and order will not be tolerated, Uttar Pradesh police has suspended over 100 policemen since the new government led by Yogi Adityanath assumed office.

    Over 100 Policemen Suspended In Uttar Pradesh After New Government Takes Over