Stanford Law School Report on Gujarat Riots [Read the Report]

Stanford International Human Rights and Conflict Resolution Clinic of Stanford Law School have published a Report on the 2002 notorious and brutal Gujarat Riots.  The report prepared by the Stanford International Human Rights and Conflict Resolution Clinic, focuses on the performance of the Gujarat Judicial System as its handling of cases emerging from the riots .

The Report titled "When Justice Becomes the Victim: The Quest for Justice After the 2002 Violence in Gujarat" has concluded that the conviction rate in riot cases  is less than 10%.  In 863 cases that reached trials, only 83 cases ended up in convictions till 2012.Only 9.63% is the conviction rate, according to the study.

The report presents the 2002 violence in Gujarat through the lens of three court cases. Two of them (the Naroda Patia case and the Gulberg Society case) pertain to two of the most brutal demonstration of communal violence. The third (the Jafri case) pertains to  the apathy and  collusion of government authorities  where  it has been alleged that the  violence took place on instigation or direct orders of some of Gujarat's highest political and social figures, including the sitting  Chief Minister of the State of Gujarat.

As per the conclusion of report, the  State of Gujarat, as well as the Government of India, can and should do more to bring true justice to the people of Gujarat. Incidentally, many reform efforts are already underway to address some of the crucial shortcomings have been identified also in this report.

The Stanford report accuses India's justice system of failing to deal with the atrocities properly, although it notes that some cases were well-handled:

"The police failed to bring charges against most of the alleged perpetrators of the violence, and even when they did, they failed to provide crucial evidence needed for their conviction. An analysis of the lower courts' handling of the cases reveals a number of significant shortcomings, as well as some noteworthy successes. Many victims of the violence feel that courts overlooked police bias, leading to an improper dismissal of cases. Many of the accused received bail and were able to carry on with their lives. In some instances, these accused threatened victims and witnesses in the cases against them."

According to the report, Gujarat has failed to pursue accountability vigorously for what transpired in 2002, and it has not effectively acted to alleviate the suffering of riot-affected victims in the past twelve years. The report recommends that Gujarat's judicial authorities should be free from any political affiliations.

Highlights of report are;

1. Conviction rate is less than 10%.

2. The State of Gujarat, as well as the Government of India, can and should do more to bring true justice to the people of Gujarat

3. Gujarat has failed to pursue accountability vigorously for what transpired in 2002, and it has no effectively acted to alleviate the suffering of riot-affected victims in the past twelve years

4. Recommends that Gujarat's judicial authorities should be free from any political affiliations.

5. Recommends setting up of independent commission to analyze:

   a) the breakdown of intelligence and law enforcement agencies,

  b) disciplinary action against cops for not registering proper FIR, technology   upgradation in lodging complaints,

   c) educating people to move court in case police gives them cold shoulder

Please read the report 

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