Guj minister refuses to acknowledge SC observation as 'rebuke'

Ahmedabad, Nov 22 (UNI) Reacting to the Supreme Court's observations on the Gujarat Government, Minister of State for Home Amit Shah said the state government has only raised an important law point on whether a PIL is maintainable in a criminal case or not, and this needs to be answered first.

While refusing to acknowledge the Supreme Court's observation as a ''rebuke'' to the Gujarat Government, Mr Shah said the main case has not even started and there has been no discussion on the merit of the case. An important law point on the maintainability of the PIL needs to be answered first, he said.

This aspect would have to be taken up by the amicus curiae (Harish Salve) of the Supreme Court who would be preparing a note later to be cirulated to all the parties and the state government.

''We will then state our stand to the amicus curiae and the Supreme Court,'' Mr Shah said.

The Supreme Court will now hear the PIL on February 20 next year. The court will decide the legal issues regarding maintainability of the petitions first.

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