Delhi HC upholds conviction of 88 people in 1984 anti-Sikh riots

The Delhi High Court today upheld the conviction of 88 persons convicted in the 1984 anti-Sikh riots. The 88 persons were convicted of rioting, arson and curfew violations in East Delhi’s Trilokpuri area by a trial court on August 27, 1996, and were handed five-year jail terms. About 107 people had been arrested on November 2, 1984. Only 47 of the 88 are now alive, and had appealed against the convictions in the high court.

NDTV quoted senior advocate HS Phoolka as calling it a “landmark judgement”. Justice RK Gauba said the 47 convicts in the case still alive today will have to surrender before the Delhi police.

The judgement comes about a week after the Delhi High Court gave the death penalty to Yashpal Singh for killing two men in the 1984 riots. Additional Sessions Judge Ajay Pandey handed co-convict Naresh Sherawat a life sentence.