The Nanavati Commission looking into the 1984 anti-Sikh riots, has asked for a two month extension to complete its inquiry.
Sources said the Commission wants time till December-end to complete its report and wrap up formalities.
The Commission has written a letter to the Government for a two-month extension and is currently in the process of writing its report.
Set up in May 2000 after a unanimous decision by the Lok Sabha for a commission to look into all aspects of the riots, the Commission was ‘‘set up on the demand of the Sikh community about there being no exhaustive inquiry,’’ said H.S. Phoolka, main counsel of the November 1984 Carnage Justice Committee.
The Commission had received 10,000 affidavits from various sources, and in January 2001, it began recording evidence. In all, 200 witnesses including 130 victims had deposed before the Commission by May 2002, including former prime minister I.K. Gujral, senior advocate Ram Jethmalani and author Khushwant Singh. The depositions concluded on August 27.
The Commission’s tenure that was extended before, was set to expire on November 2 this year. Among the prominent persons to have been issued 8-B notices by the Commission headed by Justice Nanavati, were former prime minister P.V. Narasimha Rao, Vasanth Sathe, Kamal Nath, and Jagdish Tytler.