2002 Gujarat riots: Supreme Court closes pending petitions citing 'passage of time'

The Supreme Court has closed pending petitions arising out of the 2002 Gujarat riots, saying that the cases have now become "infructuous with the passage of time".

On Tuesday, a bench headed by magistrate of India UU Lalit noted that only 1 trial within the Naroda Gam case is pending. It asked the Special Investigation Team (SIT) to require steps to bring the case to a conclusion.

Senior Advocate Mukul Rohatgi told the bench, "This court had appointed an SIT for nine major trials within the Gujarat riots. all told cases, except one, trials are concluded and appeals are pending in high courts or the Supreme Court."

"Only in 1 out of the 9 -- Naroda Gam case -- the trial is at final argument stage," Rohatgi said.

The bench was informed that multiple transfer petitions were filed between 2008 and 2010 which have now become infructuous.

On activist Teesta Setalvad's bail plea, the Supreme Court said her plea may be considered by an appropriate authority. Teesta Setalvad's separate case is being heard by a special bench of the Supreme Court today.

Teesta Setalvad was arrested in June this year for allegedly fabricating evidence to border "innocent people" within the post-Godhra riots cases.