J&K Government appointed One-man Commission to probe Kishtwar Communal Clashes

The Jammu and Kashmir government on 24 August 2013 appointed a one-man commission of inquiry headed by Justice (retired) RC Gandhi, J&K High court to probe the Kishtwar communal clashes. The clashes had occurred on 9 August 2013 in which three persons died and dozens others were injured.

The commission was appointed in exercise of the powers conferred by section 3 of the Jammu & Kashmir Commission of Inquiry Act, 1962.

The terms of reference for the commission include enquiring into the circumstances which led to the violence and arson and the consequent loss of life and property in district Kishtwar.

The commission will do enquiry into the administrative lapses which led to communal clashes and find the culprits responsible for acts of violence, arson and the loss of life and property.The commission shall perform all the necessary functions and submit its report to the Government within a period of one month from the date of issue of this notification.

The government also issued a separate order disbanding the one-man commission of inquiry which was headed by divisional commissioner Jammu Shantmanu.