Gujarat HC quashes Banerjee Committee report

Ahmedabad, Oct 13 (UNI) The Gujarat High Court today quashed the U C Banerjee Committee report which, in its interim findings, held that fire in a coach of Sabarmati Express in February, 2002 was an accident and not handiwork of an outside mob.

The court had earlier stayed publication of the Committee's final report, including its tabling in the Parliament, and action, if any, on it.

Justice D M Patel passed the order on a petition moved by Neelkanth Bhatia, who described himself a survivor-victim of the fire in coach S-6 at Godhra railway station in Gujarat on February 27 , 2002. More than 50 passengers had perished in the blaze which subsequently led to communal riots in the State.

The Committee was set up by the Railway Ministry to probe the cause of fire. In its interim report it had attributed the fire to an accident or electric short-circuit and ruled out that it was caused by a mob attack from outside.

UNI MMG SA PK HT1838