The Gujarat High Court Monday sought an explanation from the state government on its changed stand over paying compensation for mosques destroyed or demolished during the 2002 communal riots.

A division bench of Chief Justice S.J. Mukhopadhyay and Justice Anant Dave sought the state government response by March 2 on a public interest lawsuit of the Islamic Relief Committee Gujarat, which had sought compensation from the government for repair and reconstruction of damaged religious structures.

The state government had accepted the 2003 report of the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) which had recommended payment of the compensation, but later changed its stand and said that it will not be paying compensation following a policy decision on the matter.

As many as 535 religious structures were destroyed or damaged during the riots in Gujarat, and the Islamic Relief Committee approached the higher judiciary for relief.