SC to examine validity of Gujarat HC judgement in constable's murder

New Delhi, Oct 2 (UNI) The Supreme Court has decided to examine the validity of Gujarat High Court judgement of discharging state Law Minister Ashok Chandulal Bhat and BJP MP from Gujarat Haren Pathak in a murder case.

A bench comprising Justices S H Kapadia and B Sudarshan Reddy yesterday admitted an appeal filed by a social worker Prakash Dharm Singh Gurjar challenging Gujarat HC judgement passed in June last year giving clean chit to the two politicians belonging to the ruling party in the state who were facing trial for instigating a mob during anti-reservation riots in April 1985 which led to the murder of a police constable.

The complaint was launched aganist the two by the then DCP Ahmedabad who is presently the DGP of the state.

The state government did not file any appeal against the HC judgement.

According to the petitioner the state virtually won over the defence counsel as the lawyers who were defending the two accused were appointed special public prosecutor by the state goverment.

The bench headed by Justice Kapadia also gave liberty to the petitioner to mention the matter before the Chief Justice for early hearing as the case is 22 years old.The constable was killed on April 22,1985 in Khadiya area of the state.

While admitting the petition, the apex court said the present appeal has substantial merit and deserves to be decided after giving detailed hearing to the parties.

UNI