AHMEDABAD: The Gujarat High Court, on Wednesday, asked the Union government to make its stand clear on the issue whether it would sanction the Gujarat Control of Organised Crime Act (GUJCOC ).

A division bench of acting Chief Justice MS Shah and Justice DH Waghela has sought the reply by September 10, when further hearing on the petition demanding this anti-terror law by an NGO, Justice on Trial is scheduled.

The court asked the Centre to clear its stand after the advocate for the NGO, Tushar Mehta, contended that the petition has been pending for more than two years and in absence of Pota, the government requires stringent laws to tackle organised crime.

The petition claims that the Centre has sanctioned such law for Maharashtra in form of MCOCA, then why Gujarat should not have this act particularly? The state Assembly had twice cleared the Bill in the House and sent to the Centre for approval. The advocate general also stated that the state government has sent a letter to the Centre reiterating its demand in the aftermath of recent serial bomb blasts.

Justice on Trial has sought court's direction to the state government as well as to the Centre to expedite the process of sanctioning GUJCOC.