SC Issues Notice on Pleas Challenging Acquittals in 1984 Anti-Sikh Riots
The Supreme Court of India on Tuesday, May 6, 2025, issued notices in six Special Leave Petitions (SLPs) filed by the Delhi Police challenging acquittals of the accused in cases concerning the 1984 anti-Sikh riots.
A bench of Justices Abhay S. Oka and Ujjal Bhuyan was hearing a plea filed by S. Gurlad Singh Kahlon, a former member of the Shiromani Gurdwara Prabandhak Committee (SGPC), seeking the implementation of the Justice S.N. Dhingra Committee's recommendations.
The said Committee was constituted by the top court in 2018. It submitted its report in January 2020, revealing that the investigation into several riot cases had been derailed.
The Committee had then recommended filing appeals against the acquittals.
During the hearing today, counsel for Delhi Police told the court that it had filed two SLPs challenging acquittals. However, both were dismissed. The counsel further added that the committee had recommended the filing of eight SLPs.
However, Senior Advocate H.S. Phoolka, representing petitioner Gurlad Singh Kahlon, told the bench that the Delhi Police had not brought any material to the notice of either the Delhi High Court or the Supreme Court regarding the delay.
Justice Oka then questioned the Delhi Police regarding the delay in filing appeals.
To this, the counsel for Delhi Police submitted, “Lordship, in four SLPs, there is a delay of 120 days, and in two SLPs, a delay of 90 days.”
Taking note of the submissions, the bench ordered:
"Issue notice. Call for the soft copy of the record of the trial court. Registrar to provide the soft copy to counsel appearing for the parties. We direct the petitioner to place on record a compilation of notes of evidence. Notice is made returnable on the 21st of July."
During the last hearing, the top court had asked Delhi Police to file the remaining Special Leave Petitions (SLPs) in acquittal concerning the 1984 anti-Sikh riots.
Anti-Sikh riots broke out across the country following the assassination of then-Prime Minister Indira Gandhi by her two Sikh bodyguards, which led to widespread attacks on the Sikh community.
Case Title: S Gurlad Singh Kahlon v Union of India