New Delhi: The Supreme Court has dismissed a curative petition seeking a probe by a Central Agency or any other court-appointed agency into the alleged mass murders and genocide of Kashmiri Pandits in Jammu and Kashmir during 1989–1990.
“In our opinion, no case is made within the parameters indicated in the Supreme Court decision in Rupa Hurra vs Ashok Hurra case,” Supreme Court said while dismissing the petition.
The order passed by a three-judge bench of Chief Justice D Y Chandrachud, Justices Sanjay Kishan Kaul and Abdul Nazeer after ‘in-chamber’ hearing on November 22 and uploaded on SC website today said, We have gone through the Curative Petition and the connected documents. In our opinion, no case is made out within the parameters indicated in the decision of this Court in Rupa Ashok Hurra v Ashok Hurra. The Curative Petition is dismissed.
Roots In Kashmir, in the curative petition filed through its Managing Trustee Amit Raina, challenged dismissal of their review petition by the court in July 2017. This was the last legal remedy available to the Pandits.
On July 24, 2017 a bench led by then Chief Justice J S Khehar had dismissed the review petition filed by Pandits on the ground that “Incidents referred to in the petition pertained to 1989-90 and more than 27 years have passed since then. No fruitful purpose would be served as there will not be any evidence at this late juncture.”
But Kashmiri Pandits argued that just a month later on August 21, 2017, the Apex Court reopened and ordered further investigation into 241 cases closed by the SIT pertaining to the anti Sikh riots which had occurred 33 years ago.
Also Read.. Fear among Kashmiri Pandits after terror group releases hit list of 56 employees
On one hand the court refuses to order investigation citing delay of 27 years but in another case a reinvestigation is ordered even after 33 years and therefore this amounts to discrimination, they argued in the Curative Petition.
“Dismissal of our review on ground that no evidence will be available after 27 years passed by is contrary to the settled position of law that in crimes against humanity and crimes which shock the conscience of the society there is no limitation period. Not a single FIR out of 258 was investigated by the erstwhile State of Jammu & Kashmir. By saying that no evidence is available now, the court is giving liberty to police officers and authorities not to investigate at all. It is the duty of the police to say there is no evidence and file a closure report, and not of the court,” argues Amit Raina.
Also Read.. Protest in Jammu for relocation of KP employees
Add Comment