Godhra

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[url="http://www.dailypioneer.com/300970/Teesta-in-real-trouble.html"]Teesta in real trouble[/url]

SC takes serious exception to her writing to UN body on Godhra trial



Refuses to entertain her plea challenging trial court order on Rais



Social activist Teesta Setalvad faced the ire of the Supreme Court on Thursday for taking her grievances in the ongoing Godhra riot cases before an international human rights agency at a time when the apex court was monitoring the progress of the investigations.



The court was referring to two letters sent by Setalvad’s NGO Citizens for Justice and Peace (CJP) to the United Nations Commission on Human Rights based in Geneva as recently as October 5 and October 7 this year.



In another setback to Teesta, the apex court refused to entertain an application where the activist challenged a recent trial court order which directed recording of statement of her former aide Rais Khan. Khan had made sensational allegations against Teesta-tutored witnesses and filed false affidavits in riot cases to mislead the Supreme Court.



Claiming that Khan’s “personal enmity” had led him to turn against her, Setalvad in her application demanded stay of proceedings before the Special Judge hearing the Gulbarga Society trial. On November 3, the Special Judge allowed Khan’s statement to be recorded by the special investigation team (SIT), entrusted with the probe.



The apex court Bench of Justices DK Jain, P Sathasivam and Aftab Alam felt that the remedy to challenge the Ahmedabad court’s order was before the Gujarat High Court. “This application is in an ongoing trial. If you are aggrieved, move the appellate authority under the Code of Criminal Procedure. How can we become the appellate authority?” the Bench said.



On the letters addressed by Teesta to the international body, senior advocate and amicus curiae Harish Salve informed the Bench that the SIT was “disturbed” over the constant airing of grievances by Setalvad to the international body. The letters addressed to SIT chairman RK Raghavan had complained about the poor witness protection in the Godhra cases and even contained information of how her former aide Rais Khan was bought over by the other side.



What annoyed court

-Setalvad's CJP sent letters to UN Commission on Human Rights in Geneva

-SIT was ‘disturbed' over constant airing of grievances by Setalvad to international body

-Letters complained about poor witness protection in Godhra cases

-Also contained information of how Rais Khan was allegedly bought over

-On Rais Khan, SC told her to move appellate authority under CrPC