The Gujarat High Court on Monday, 9 October, commuted the death sentence of 11 convicts to rigorous life imprisonment, while upholding the life sentence of another 20 in the 2002 Godhra train burning case.
While ordering the state and the railways to pay a compensation of Rs 10 lakh to the kin of those killed in the Godhra incident, the high court observed that "the state has failed to maintain law and order, so has the railways". Those injured in the incident should be given compensation as per the disabilities they suffered, the court said.
The division bench also said that it regrets the delay in pronouncement of the judgement, as hearing on appeals had concluded much earlier.
The High Court relied on the testimonies of injured witnesses, passengers, railway employees, Railway Protection Force personnel, two policemen from Godhra, the Gujarat railway police, experts from forensic laboratories and also the confessional statements.
The court rejected the appeal filed by the special investigation team (SIT) against the acquittal of 63 people, and also rejected its appeal seeking enhancement of sentences. The court also rejected the appeal against conviction.
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