Errabore massacre: Another former HC Justice refuses to head inquiry

Bilaspur, Chhattisgarh, Mar 10 (UNI) Another retired judge has refused to be part of an independent committee set up to look into the massacre of 40 tribals in Errabore relief camp in Dantewada district allegedly by Naxalites last year.

Yesterday, the state government had informed a division bench of Chief Justice H L Dattu and Justice Vijay Kumar Srivastava that retired High Court judge R L Srivastava had refused to assume charge of the chairman of the committee.

Earlier, former Madhya Pradesh High Court Justice R K Verma had refused to head the committee as the government had proposed his name without prior consultation.

Justice Vijay Kumar Srivastava had directed the government to make effort to include former Justice C D Mishra in the committee, as he was a resident of Chhattisgarh. However, amicus curie Meena Shastri requested to include former Delhi High Court Justice Jaipal Singh.

About 40 people were killed and hutments set on fire in the attack carried out by the ultras on July 17, 2006.

Admitting a letter petition by Bastar's Pratap Agrawal and Narayan Swami, the High Court had directed the government to set up an independent inquiry committee.

On the recommendation of the government, Bakshi Srijanpeeth Chairman and journalist Babban Mishra was included in the committee, while Jaipur Indian Express editor N K Singh was included in the committee on amicus curie's recommendation.

Justice Verma was appointed the chairman of the committee on the basis of recommendation of the state government.

UNI