1984 Riots: SC modifies order, two-member SIT to probe 186 cases

The Supreme Court today modified its order in the case relating to the Special Investigation Team (SIT) set up to probe 186 cases in the 1984 riots in which violence was perpetrated against the Sikh community..The Court, in its order in January, had set up a three-member SIT to probe the cases. The order to set up this SIT was passed by a Bench of then Chief Justice of India Dipak Misra, and Justices AM Khanwilkar and DY Chandrachud..However, one of the members of the SIT subsequently withdrew from the probe panel. An application seeking a modification of the Court order was filed, praying for the probe to be carried out by the two remaining members of the team..The matter came up before the Bench of Justices Madan Lokur and Deepak Gupta on December 3, when the Court noted that since the original order of setting up of the SIT was passed by a three-judge Bench, the order cannot be modified by a division bench..The Court then listed the case before a three-Judge Bench today, and it was heard by a Bench of Justices Madan Lokur, Deepak Gupta and Hemant Gupta..This Bench today modified the previous order, effectively meaning that the 186 cases in the 1984 riots will be probed by the two-member SIT comprising former Judge of the Delhi High Court Justice SN Dhingra and IPS Officer Abhishek Dular..The third member who declined to be a part of the SIT was IPS officer (retd.) Rajdeep Singh. Singh withdrew on account of personal reasons..The Delhi High Court recently upheld the conviction of 89 persons for their role in the 1984 riots, criticizing the delay of justice in no uncertain terms..Read Order: