Petitioner organisation had based its case on NHRC report,which said government had failed to provide security to 294 structures The Gujarat High Court has asked the state government to negotiate the issue of reconstructing the religious structures,which were affected during the 2002 riots,with the concerned party for an amicable resolution of the matter. A Division Bench headed by Chief Justice S J Mukhopadhyaya passed an oral order to this effect on Tuesday,while hearing a PIL. The PIL has been filed by an organisation,the Islamic Relief Committee Gujarat (IRCG),praying inter-alia directions to the government to compensate the repair work of the structures damaged in the riots. One of the grounds on which the petitioner organisation has based its case is the report of the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC). It had said that the state machinery failed to provide security to 294 structures that were damaged. Therefore,it was under an obligation to pay compensation towards their reconstruction. The petitioner has also contended that the state government has agreed before the NHRC in principle to get these structures repaired. The state government has been disputing this saying that it is under no obligation to compensate for the damage to the structures. The government is also disputing the number of such structures. On Tuesday,the Advocate General said only 37 such structures were left to be repaired. During the hearing,the Chief Justice observed that the government should resolve the issue amicably and that the court should be the last resort in such issues. The Advocate General agreed to the Chief Justices direction to negotiate the issue with the petitioner,saying he will ask the state government on the same. The Chief Justice asked the Advocate General to file an affidavit if the state government thinks it cannot compensate or reconstruct the structures. In such a case,the court will pass an order on the petition,which will hurt the government,he said.
