1984 Sikh Genocide: Delhi High Court Upholds Punishment of 70 Genocide Culprits
Posted: 29 Nov 2018 07:36 AM PSTNEW DELHI, India—Terming the 1984 Sikh genocide as a dark chapter in the history of independent India, the Delhi High Court on November 28 upheld the conviction of 70 out of the total 89 genocide culprits indulged in killing innocent Sikhs, burning their houses and violating curfew in the East Delhi’s Trilokpuri area during the 1984 Sikh genocide. The Court remarked in its verdict that the police as well as civil administration didn’t do anything to avert the circumstances.
Notably, the trial court had awarded five year sentence to 89 genocide culprits in this case. 16 out of the total 89 had died during the trial of the case while 3 others had absconded.
“The fact that these cases have continued to linger on in courts at the stage of trial or appeals is itself an indicator of the reality that the response of the law has been tardy, ineffective and highly unsatisfactory,” remarked Justice RK Gauba in his 79-page verdict.
The Court also remarked that the police did not promptly register the crimes and collect evidence and the other agencies, including the prosecution and the trial court, failed to rise to the occasion.
Justice Gauba noted that 95 bodies were recovered after the rioting, 22 of which remained unidentified and it was likely that no prosecution was initiated against anyone in respect of these deaths. “This court directs the Commissioner of Police, Delhi, to have the material and evidence re-examined for further action… The large-scale rioting, mob violence, arson, plunder, genocide and looting has been duly proved and established… the judgment of the trial court must be upheld,” he added.
Dismissing the appeals of the convicts and cancelling their bail bonds, the court noted that after each communal riot, there were allegations of political influences being the root cause and therefore, there could be a need to “inject” a “sense of neutrality” in the investigative and prosecution process.
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Comment:- Shame on such Law-System.      Amar Jit Singh Chandi