National desk
24 October
Sandeep Dhand Ludhiana
The Delhi High Court has dismissed petitions that challenged the release of three accused in the 1984 Sikh riots case. The petitions were filed 27 to 36 years after the release of the accused. A bench comprising Justice Pratibha M. Singh and Justice Amrita Singh stated on October 21 that while they recognize the significant loss of life and property during the riots, they are primarily concerned about the “long delay” by the prosecution in filing the appeal.
The court observed that if these petitions are considered, it could set a precedent for at least ten other similar cases. The long gap between the release of the accused and the filing of the petitions could not be overlooked. The bench also noted previous decisions by division benches in similar cases, which were upheld by the Supreme Court, emphasizing that such delays could not be ignored.
Ultimately, the court dismissed the petitions, citing the prolonged delay and the importance of adhering to legal precedents set by the higher courts.