SC paves way for trial in 2008 Gujarat serial blast case

New Delhi, Jul 6 (PTI) India's apex court on Wednesday
paved the way for trial of over 50 accused in the 2008 Gujarat
serial bomb blasts which killed over 56 persons.
A bench of Justices Altamas Kabir and Cyriac Joseph
rejected the plea of the accused that the trial in the
opposition Bharatiya Janata Party-ruled state could not be
held in a free and fair manner owing to the surcharged
communal atmosphere in the aftermath of the 2002 Godhra
massacre in the west Indian state of Gujarat.
The Supreme Court of India said things have
considerably "settled down" after the Godhra killings and
hence the claim of the accused that the trial could not be
held in a fair manner was mere apprehension.
It, however, granted liberty to the accused to move
the court again if and when there were genuine apprehensions
of the trial being held in a vitiated atmosphere.
The apex court had earlier in 2009 stayed the trial
against the accused after the latter sought transfer of the
cases outside the state on the ground that the prosecution and
the investigating agencies were totally biased in favour of
the ruling party. PTI RB
ASR