Petitions for transfer of cases outside Guj to be heard on Aug 29

New Delhi, July 31 (UNI) The Supreme Court today ordered that the petitions seeking transfer of three suits of damages worth about Rs 26 crores from Gujarat Chief Minister Narenda Modi, state Chief Secretary and other senior police officials outside the state, be listed alongwith transfer petitions which are coming up for hearing on August 29.

A bench comprising Justices K G Balakrishnan and D K Jain refused to issue notice on the petitions saying the letter for adjournment had already been circulated.

Three NRIs, Imran Mohammad, Salim Dawood, Shameema Dawood, Shirin Dawood are seeking transfer of three suits for damages pending in Sabarkantha district court in Gujarat and each plaintiff is seeking a damage of Rs 8.61 crore from Mr Modi, the then Chief Secretary, the then DGP, IG CID, Vigilance Commissioner and others for not being able to save their family members from being killed during 2002 communal riots in the state, which were sparked off following the Godhra train incident.

It may be noted here the three are also seeking transfer of criminal cases outside Gujarat on the grounds that free and fair trial was not possible in the state.

In 2002 the NRIs, who had come from England, were going in a Tata Sumo in Sabarkantha district when they were attacked by rioters and lost four to five family members and two women petitioners lost their husbands.

Imran managed to escape and filed an FIR at the police station concerned.

According to the petitioners, court proceedings in civil suits are somehow getting influenced as the state has been filing frivolous applications claiming that since the petitioners are foreigners, they cannot file cases here and the same are being entertained by the district courts, and hence free and fair trials are not possible in Gujarat.

Senior Counsel Indira Jaisingh appearing for the petitioners, pleaded for issuance of notice, but the court said ''We will see on the next date.'' UNI AKS/SC PA VP1258