Chronology of Godhra train carnage case

February 27, 2002: 59 'karsevaks' die after S-6 coach of the Sabarmati Express torched by a mob near Godhra railway station. FIR filed against 1500 people.
February 28–March 31, 2002: Communal violence erupts in various parts of Gujarat killing over 1200 people mostly belonging to the minority community.
March 3, 2002: Prevention Of Terrorism Ordinance (POTO) invoked against those arrested for Godhra train burning case.
March 6, 2002: Gujarat government appoints a Commission under Commission of Inquiry's Act to probe the Godhra incident and the post-Godhra riots.
March 9, 2002: Police include IPC section 120 B (criminal conspiracy) against all accused.
March 25, 2002: POTO suspended on all the accused due to pressure from the central government.
May 27, 2002: First charge sheet filed against 54 accused but were not charged under POTA.
February 18, 2003: Prevention of Terrorism Act (POTO became an Act as it was cleared by Parliament) was re-invoked against the accused after BJP government was re-elected in the state.
November 21, 2003: Supreme Court stays judicial proceeding of all riot related cases including Godhra train burning incident.
September 4, 2004: A Committee headed by former Supreme Court judge U C Banerjee constituted, following a Union Cabinet decision to inquire into certain aspects of the incident under Railway Ministry when RJD leader Lalu Prasad was the minister.
September 21, 2004: Decision to review POTA charges against the accused as POTA was repealed by Union Government.
January 17, 2005: U C Banerjee submits preliminary report suggesting fire in S6 coach being an 'accident' and ruled out the possibility of fire having resulted out of any external attack.
May 16, 2005: POTA Review Committee gives it opinion not to charge accused under POTA. The Act was abolished by the newly elected UPA government.
October 13, 2006: Gujarat High Court rules formation of UC Banerjee committee as "illegal" and "unconstitutional" since Nanavati-Shah Commission was already conducting inquiry in all the riots related cases and said Banerjee probe results stand 'invalid'.
March 26, 2008: SC constitutes Special Investigation Team (SIT) to investigate Godhra train burning incident and eight other post-Godhra riot cases.
September 18, 2008: Nanavati Commission submits its report on Godhra train burning incident, saying that it was a pre-planned conspiracy and S6 coach was torched by mob who had poured petrol inside it.
February 12, 2009: HC upholds Pota Review Committee decision that the act cannot be applied in this case.
February 20, 2009: Kin of victim of Godhra train burning case move SC against decision of HC to drop POTA charges against the accused. Case is still pending.
May 1, 2009: SC lifts stay on trial of Godhra and all other cases being probed by the SIT, after the team headed by former CBI director R K Raghavan makes steady progress in the Godhra-train buring and eight other major riot cases in the state.
June 1, 2009: Trial of the Godhra train carnage commences inside the Sabarmati Central jail in Ahmedabad.
May 6, 2010: SC restrains trial courts to pronounce judgement in nine sensitive riot cases of Gujarat including Godhra train incident.
September 28, 2010: Trial concludes, no pronouncement of judgement due to stay by the apex court.
January 18, 2011: SC lifts ban on pronouncement of verdict.
February 22, 2011: Special court convicts 31 accused and acquits 63 others in the train burning case.