We had always opposed the formation of this panel, says state home minister

Gujarat Minister of State for Home Amit Shah has said that the state government has always opposed the setting up of the Central POTA Review Committee. He said the government also backs the petitions filed in the High Court by aggrieved parties challenging the merits of the Committee’s findings that offences against those accused in the Godhra train carnage cannot be made under the anti-terror law.

The minister was reacting to the Supreme Court verdict that had held that a trial under POTA cannot proceed once the Review Committee gives the finding that the offences cannot be made out under POTA.

Shah told Newsline that the state government opposed the Central POTA Review Committee, as it was set up by administrative orders, and not under any law. The merits of the Committee’s recommendations can be challenged in the High Court, he said.

He declined to comment further on the issue, saying that the HC would hear the case on Thursday.

About the Tuesday verdict given by the SC, he said: “We have not yet received a copy of the verdict. The government has asked its lawyer to dispatch a copy of the verdict given by the apex court. We’ll study the SC order after receiving the copy.”