SC adjourns hearing against Gujarat DGP

New Delhi, Sep 11 (UNI) The Supreme Court today adjourned by four weeks the hearing on a petition challenging the appointment of P C Pandey as DGP of Gujarat by the Narendra Modi government.

A bench, comprising Justices Altamas Kabir and Markandey Katju, granted the adjournment when both the petitioner and the state government sought more time.

The petitioner had alleged that the role of Mr Pandey, who was Ahmedabad Commissioner of Police during the 2002 communal riots in the state, was ''dubious and partisan.'' Mr Pandey had failed to control the rioting mob in Ahmedabad and been indicted by the Election Commission and removed from the post of the DGP during the Assembly election in the state on the EC's orders.

He was likely to influence the investigation of riot cases, the plea contended.

Mr Pandey was brought back as the DGP of the state after the BJP won the Assembly election and retain EC power in the state.

UNI SC SW UCS1723