Govt ignores Mishra report, appoints yet another committee

Govt ignores Mishra report, appoints yet another committee
SHARAD GUPTA

NEW DELHI, JANUARY 17: The Government has appointed a fresh inquiry commission into 1984 anti-Sikh riots in the country headed by Justice Ranganath Mishra, submitted 14-years ago.

A division bench of Allahabad High Court has appointed a committee headed by a retired high court judge, Justice G B Singh, to evaluate the extent to which the UP Government has implemented Justice Ranganath Mishra commission's recommendations. Singh has been asked to submit his report to the high court within six weeks.

Justice S H A Raza and R D Mathur, delivered the order on a petition filed by a former MLA, Virender Mohan Singh last week. Besides granting financial relief package to families of riot-victims, the Mishra panel had also mooted prosecution of Government officials - including an IAS officer - who failed to check the carnage.

The Commission had quoted incidents when the then district magistrate of Kanpur, Brijendra, remained a mute spectator to the massacre of Sikh families in Kidwai Nagar of the city. Herefused to sanction orders to open fire on the rioting mob despite strong plea by the Army officials, who also deposed before the Commission.

``The district magistrate made a wrong assessment of situation. Obviously the factual position was either ignored or not taken into account.... At one stage the commission had thought of issuing notice under section 8-B of the Inquiry Act to Brijendra but later entrusted the task to the State Government as section 8-B does not bring about punishment,'' Mishra had said in his report.

Justice Mishra had recommended another inquiry into Brijendra's conduct by either a retired high court judge or a senior civilian. However, the State Government entrusted the task to a retired civil servant, R C Takru. Not only no action was ever taken by the State Government against Brijendra, but he was also granted promotions and prized postings.

Besides looking into the action against officials held responsible for administrative lapses during the riots, the Singh Committee wouldalso inquire into implementation of the relief package to riot victims' families.