New York, US (July 11, 2014): According to certain media reports, a US Federal court has denied permissions requested by a Human Rights and advocacy group – Sikhs for Justice, to file an amended complaint against India’s Congress party president Sonia Gandhi in connection with a Sikh genocide 1984 related law suit.
Sikhs for Justice (SFJ) had written to US District Judge Brian Cogan requesting “leave to further amend the complaint” against Sonia Gandhi was denied by the judge who said in his order that since the case against Sonia Gandhi was dismissed last month, there is no basis for SFJ to seek further amendment of the complaint.
“Final judgment has been entered in this case and thus there is no basis for further amendment of the pleadings. In addition, even if the case was still open, plaintiff has shown no grounds for permitting an amendment of the pleadings,” US District Judge Brian Cogan said in his order.
Judge Cogan had last month dismissed the human rights violation lawsuit against Sonia Gandhi on certain technical grounds but did not bar SFJ from bringing litigation against her in future.
He had however denied a request by Sonia Gandhi that the court should impose an “anti-suit injunction” prohibiting Sikhs For Justice (SJF) from bringing further lawsuits.
SFJ has filed an appeal in the US Court of Appeals against Cogan’s order to dismiss the case against Gandhi. Sonia Gandhi’s attorney Ravi Batra expressed confidence that his client will win against SFJ’s appeal.
SFJ and the other plaintiffs in the case had said that Gandhi’s conduct towards the perpetrators caused the victims, survivors and the Sikh community serious pain and suffering.