No relief to Godhra Carnage accused : SC

New Delhi, Apr 7 (UNI) The Supreme Court today refused to grant any relief to the petitioners who are facing allegations of their involvement in Godhra train burning incident in which over 50 kar-sevaks were burnt alive.

A bench comprising Chief Justice Y K Sabharwal and Mr Justice C K Thakker today directed that the matter shall be heard in August.

The petitioners have challenged the validity of Section 321 which subjects the findings of POTA Review Committee appointed by the Centre to review all the POTA cases subservient to the public prosecutor who can reject the findings of POTA review committee and can take independent decision.

The Godhra Train burning incident had led to wide spread communal riots in Gujarat in 2002 in which thousands were burnt alive or killed.

The Gujarat government has brought in a legislation to deal with terrorist activities with an iron hand. The Centre, however, repealed the prevention of Terrorism Act 2002 and appointed a POTA review comittee to review all the cases.

AKS/SC SR RN1622