Phoolka seeks permission to continue as counsel for 1984 anti-Sikh riots victims

New Delhi [India], Mar. 30 (ANI): Senior lawyer and Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) member H.S. Phoolka on Thursday wrote to the Bar Council seeking special permission to continue as counsel for the 1984 anti-Sikh riots victims on a pro bono basis. By becoming the Leader of Opposition in Punjab, Phoolka has assumed the status of a cabinet minister and as per the Bar Council of India (BCI) guidelines, a government post holder cannot do full-time practice. The Delhi High Court yesterday reopened five cases in connection with the 1984 anti-Sikh riots that were closed in 1986. Earlier, the apex court directed the Centre to deposit more than 190 files in connection with this case. Expressing serious concern over the closure of more than 190 cases, out of a total of the 293 cases referred to SIT on 1984 anti-Sikh riot cases, the court asked the Union of India to produce on record on April 25 all the files related to closure of these cases by SIT. Attorney General Mukul Rohatgi told the apex court that the SIT in as many as 263 cases had no case files and there was no trace of any victim or witness. On February 20, the Centre filed a status report in the top court on the investigation conducted by the SIT into anti-Sikh riots cases. The court had asked the government to brief it within four weeks on the steps taken in the matter, after the Centre had said that the SIT's work was "in progress". Earlier, the apex court directed petitioner Gurlad Singh Kahlon to file his suggestions in connection with the riot cases. Kahlon had sought the court's direction for setting up of the SIT to ensure speedy justice to the riot victims. Anti-Sikh riots that broke out after the assassination of then prime minister Indira Gandhi had claimed 2,433 lives in Delhi alone. (ANI)