Delhi government to challenge six releases in 1984 anti-Sikh riots cases

New Delhi: The Delhi government informed the Supreme Court on Monday that it will challenge the release of six individuals linked to the 1984 anti-Sikh riots.

The Supreme Court directed both the Centre and the Delhi government to file their appeals within six weeks and ordered that the special leave petitions be presented before Chief Justice Sanjiv Khanna to link them with the ongoing case.

Senior advocate HS Phoolka, representing petitioner Gurlad Singh Kahlon, criticized the state government for inadequate prosecution, calling the cases “crimes against humanity.”

The hearing was related to a public interest litigation filed by Kahlon, a former member of the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee.

In 2018, the Supreme Court ordered the formation of a Special Investigation Team (SIT) to re-examine 199 cases connected to the riots, which had been previously closed.

Additional Solicitor General Aishwarya Bhati, representing the Delhi government, confirmed before a bench of Justices Abhay S Oka and Ujjal Bhuyan that the state has decided to challenge the releases in the Supreme Court.