The Supreme Court adjourned for three weeks the hearing in the Gulburg Society massacre case in which 69 people, including former Congress MP Md Ehsan Jaffery, lost their lives during 2002 Gujarat communal riots.

The matter is pending in the Gujarat High Court and is listed for hearing on March 18.

The families of the victim have also moved the High Court seeking transfer of the case to some other court from the one in which it is at present pending.

A special bench comprising Mr Justice D K Jain, Mr Justice P Sathasivam and Mr Justice Aftab Alam adjourned the hearing to await outcome of the petitions pending in the High Court.

A Special Investigating Team (SIT) appointed by the Supreme Court is also investigating ten major cases of Gujarat communal riots including the Naroda Patia and Sardarpura cases.

The SIT has summoned Gujarat Chief Minister Mr Modi for questioning on March 21 in connection with Gulburga Society massacre.

It is investigating the role of 62 public servants with 12 ministers in Modi Government including State Home Minister Amit Shah and senior IAS and IPS officers.

The petitioners have moved the Supreme Court seeking removal of three senior Gujrat police officials from the probe panel including IG Geeta Johri, DIG Shivanand Jha and DSP Ashish Bhatia of Gujarat police for their alleged partisan role in the investigation.

Communal riots had rocked the state following the Godhra train fire incident in which 59 Ayodhya Karsewaks were burnt alive in February 2002.

UNI