My guru was a Muslim, I lived at his feet for 20 years: Justice Mehta

Justice Mehta was appointed on on April 8, 2007 as the second member of the commission headed by Justice G T Nanavati probing the Godhra incident and the ensuing riots. His appointment is still drawing protests from civil rights groups across Gujarat.

The Jan Sangharsh Manch (JSM), one of the five parties appearing before the Commission, has boycotted its proceedings on the grounds that Justice Mehta’s credentials are questionable. This was after Babu Bajrangi, the main accused in the Naroda-Patiya massacre, which left more than 80 dead, was shown on tape saying that Justice Mehta gave him bail “without even looking at the file”.

The most recent censure has come from the National Minority Commission, which said on Tuesday that such incidents will result in the minorities losing confidence in the institutions of judiciary and governance.

•The controversy surrounding your appointment refuses to die down. The National Minority Commission said yesterday that your appointment means that minorities will lose confidence in the judiciary.

I don’t know why this is being raised again and again. It hurts me, because all of this is untrue. All I know is that my conscience is clear.

•The demand for your ouster is based on the Tehelka transcripts and the broadcast tapes, which show Babu Bajrangi, prime accused in the Naroda-Patiya massacre saying that you gave him bail “without even looking into the file”.

I was a judge in the High Court and was doing my judicial duty. It was just like any other case. It did not merit any special consideration from me in any way.

•You were a sitting judge of the Gujarat High Court when the tapes were broadcast. You could have issued a contempt notice against the publication or the channel. Why did you not do anything to clear your name?

You have to understand that as a judge I had to remain stoical and silent. Any action from my part would have invited more mud slinging. Also, as I had said, my conscience is clear.

•The whole issue seems to revolve around the bail given to Babu Bajrangi in October 2002. How do you see it?

(Smiles) It’s been a long time. I don’t remember the details. I had...