Following is the chronology of the case related to the 2002 Godhra train carnage and the communal violence that followed the incident.

February 27, 2002: 59 'karsevaks' die after S-6 coach of the Sabarmati Express is torched by a mob near Godhra railway station.

February 28, 2002: FIR filed against 1,500 people

March 31, 2002: Communal violence erupts in various parts of Gujarat killing over 1,200 people, mostly belonging to the minority community.

March 3, 2002: Prevention Of Terrorism Ordinance (POTO) invoked against those arrested for Godhra train burning case.

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February 18, 2003: Prevention of Terrorism Act re-invoked against the accused after BJP government is 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 the newly elected UPA government repeals POTA.

January 17, 2005: U C Banerjee submits preliminary report suggesting that fire in S6 coach was a 'accident' and ruled out the possibility of fire having resulted after any external attack.

May 16, 2005: POTA Review Committee gives its opinion to not charge the accused under POTA.

October 13, 2006: Gujarat high court rules formation of U C Banerjee committee as 'illegal' and 'unconstitutional' since Nanavati-Shah Commission was already conducting inquiry in all riot-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 a mob, which 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.