Gujarat High Court on Tuesday rejected applications by former state
minister Maya Kodnani and two others against the decision of the trial court
judge who had refused to recuse herself from Naroda Gaam riot case. Justice K M
Thakar of the high court said there were no grounds or reasons to consider the
trial judge’s removal. The high court also noted that following the setting up
of designated courts for the 2002 riot cases by the Supreme Court, the judges
were appointed by Chief Justice of Gujarat High Court, and “hence this court is
of the opinion not to interfere in the matter”. Kodnani, Babu Bajrangi and
Kishan Korani had challenged the decision of trial judge Jyotsna Yagnik who had
rejected their plea that she should pull out of the trial. The present case
before judge Yagnik relates to the incidents in Naroda Gaam where 11 people of
the minority community were killed in post-Godhra riots. Kodnani and others had
said that Yagnik had pronounced them guilty in Naroda Paitya riot case, and
they would not get fair and impartial trial if the same judge were to try
Naroda Gaam case.
