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4mo ago

Gujarat High Court Upholds Dismissal of Police for Negligence in 2002 Godhra Tragedy

The court ruled that the constables’ absence from the Sabarmati Express contributed to the deadly train attack and subsequent riots.

59 Hindu pilgrims and kar sevaks returning from Ayodhya on board the Sabarmati Express were killed when a group of people set fire to the train near the Godhra railway station in Gujarat (AP FILE)
The court dismissed their petitions challenging their dismissal, ruling that their absence from the train due to negligence contributed to the tragedy. (REUTERS)
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Overview

  • The Gujarat High Court dismissed petitions from nine railway police constables challenging their 2005 dismissal for negligence during the 2002 Godhra train attack.
  • The constables were found to have falsified station diary entries and boarded an alternate train instead of the delayed Sabarmati Express, which was later attacked.
  • Justice Vaibhavi D. Nanavati stated that their negligence directly contributed to the tragedy, which killed 59 passengers and triggered widespread communal riots.
  • The court clarified that the constables were not accused of criminal conspiracy but were held accountable for dereliction of duty and procedural violations.
  • The state argued that their absence left passengers vulnerable, and the court upheld the fairness of the inquiry and severity of the punishment.