1984 riots case: US court allows summons to be served to Sonia in hospital

New York: A Sikh rights group today secured a summons from a US judge to be served on Congress President Sonia Gandhi at a hospital where she is believed to be under medical care in a case filed against her for “shielding and protecting” party leaders allegedly involved in the 1984 anti-Sikh riots. A class action suit against Gandhi was filed by Sikhs for justice (SFJ), a US-based human rights group, along with victims of the November 1984 under Alien Tort Claims Act (ATCA) and Torture Victim Protection Act (TVPA). [caption id=“attachment_1099147” align=“alignleft” width=“380”]  Inheriting a controversy? Reuters[/caption] SFJ legal counsel Gurpatwant S Pannun said federal court Judge Brian M Cogan’s order further directs the hospital and security staff to give summons and complaint to Gandhi personally in the hospital. Gandhi is currently in the US for regular medical check up. 66-year-old Gandhi, who had undergone a surgery in the US for an undisclosed ailment on 5 August, 2011, had flown there for a check-up in February and again on 2 September last year. PTI