In what BJP leadership considered as a considerable relief to the Gujarat Chief Minister, Mr Narendra Modi, the Supreme Court today refused to pass any order indicting him for his alleged inaction to contain the 2002 riots that broke out in the state following the Godhra carnage.

The apex court’s three judge bench, headed by Justice DK Jain, asked the Special Investigation  team (SIT) to submit its final report to the concerned local court and so that the magistrate would take a decision on  proceeding against the chief minister.

“We direct the concerned local court to decide whether to proceed against Mr. Modi and 62 others, which includes senior government officials for the alleged inaction,” said the bench.

The bench, which also consisted of justices P. Sathasivam and Aftab Alam, made it clear that there was no need for them to further monitor the riot cases. “If the local magistrate decides to drop proceedings against Mr. Modi and others, he will then hear the plea of slain MP Ehsan Jafri’s widow Zakia Jafri, who had filed a complaint against the Gujarat Chief Minister” said the bench.