The Gujarat High Court on Monday asked the Nanavati Commission, probing the 2002 riot cases, to clarify by April 1 whether it will summon Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi in the matter.

A division bench of Chief Justice S J Mukhopadhaya and Justice Akil Kureshi sought this information from the government pleader while hearing an appeal by Jan Sangarsh Manch (JSM), an NGO representing the 2002 riot victims.

When the matter came up for hearing today the court asked the government pleader to get clarification from Nanavati Commission by April 1 with regard to its order of September 2009, and inform the court whether its decision not to summon Modi and others was a final decision or a tentative one.

Nanavati Commission, in September last year had disposed of JSM's application asking for summoning of Modi and others saying that it did not find justification in cross-examining them at that point of time for the purpose stated by JSM.

The Commission had further stated in the order that allegations made in JSM's application were vague and based on wrong or unwarranted assumptions.

JSM had sought quashing of the Nanavati Commission's order in the Gujarat High Court and prayed that Modi and three others -- the then home minister Gordhan Zadafia, health minister Ashok Bhat and DCP Zone 5, R J Savani-- be called for cross examination with regard to the 2002 riots.