The Gujarat high court on Friday began hearing the amended appeal of the state government challenging the acquittal of 21 people in the Best Bakery case.

The hearing commenced before the division bench of Justice B J Sethna and Justice J R Vora, with Advocate General S N Shelat reading out the evidence and judgment of the fast-tract court of Vadodara, which had acquitted the accused on June 27, 2003.

The bench also dismissed a revision application challenging the acquittal order filed by Saherabanu Sheikh, sister of witness Zaheera Sheikh.

"In ordinary circumstances, when the state appeal is admitted, then revision application filed at an instance of private parties is not entertained, unless special circumstances are pointed out," the court ruled.

The bench, however, said that the applicant's advocate could "assist" the advocate general.

The hearing will continue on Saturday.

Chastised by the Supreme Court's severe indictment for filing an "eyewash of an appeal" earlier, the state government filed the "amended" appeal on September 29.

Twelve people were burnt alive at the bakery on March 1, when post-Godhra riots broke out.