A US federal court in Brooklyn, on Monday, has dismissed a lawsuit against Sonia Gandhi, alleging the Congress President of shielding party members supposedly involved in November 1984 riots that killed thousands of Sikhs. The class action lawsuit was filed by a Sikh rights organisation, New York based Sikhs For Justice (SFJ) and victims of 1984 under Alien Tort Claims Act (ATCA) and Torture Victim Protection Act (TVPA).
US district judge Brian M. Cogan accepted Gandhi’s motion to dismiss the case due to lack of subject matter jurisdiction and failure to state a claim. However, Gandhi’s motion for “anti suit injunction” that would to prevent SFJ from filing any further law suits was denied.
“Plaintiffs’ claims under the ATS (Alien Tort Statute) must be dismissed for lack of subject matter jurisdiction because they are plainly barred under the Supreme Court’s decision in Kiobel v. Royal Dutch Petroleum Co,” he said.
The Alien Tort Statute (ATS), a US federal law first adopted in 1789, gives the federal courts jurisdiction to hear lawsuits filed by non-US citizens for wrongful acts committed, violating the international law.
Meanwhile, SFJ legal advisor Gurpatwant Singh said that since the court has not banned the organization from filing further lawsuits, the SFJ will continue to hold Congress leaders accountable before US Courts.
Sonia Gandhi, earlier had refused to submit a copy of her passport to the US Court and conceded to the court’s personal jurisdiction, which resulted in proper service of summons in the case.
News Source: The Republic News Network