``The NCM's recommendations to the Union Government highlight the responsibility of the Centre in a situation where the Shiv Sena-led government has obstructed any steps to be taken on the report's recommendations,'' the party politburo said in a statement.

``The Central Government has to consider the specific steps suggested by the commission seriously and take an immediate decision in the matter,'' it said.

Stating that the Mumbai riots had led to widespread loss of lives and persecution of minorities, the party said the NCM proposal has ``once again drawn attention to the refusal to take any action (by the Maharashtra Government) against those held responsible in the report for the riots''.

Meanwhile, the Mumbai HighCourt today adjourned to November 16 next a bunch of petitions that sought a direction to the Maharashtra Government for taking action against those held responsible by the Srikrishna Commission for the riots.

The petitions have been filed by Tushar Gandhi, vice-president of Samajwadi Party's city unit, P A Sebastian of the Committee for Protection of Democratic Rights, Maharashtra Minorities Front (MMF) and Bombay Aman Committee.

When the matter came up for hearing before a bench headed by Chief Justice M B Shah, advocate general C J Sawant pointed out that a similar petition was scheduled to be heard before the Supreme Court on October 7.

Majeed Memon, counsel for Tushar Gandhi, submitted that the petition pending before the Supreme Court had challenged section 3 of the Commission of Inquiries Act which dealt with the powers of the state to act on the findings of an inquiry commission.

Gandhi's petition, he argued, had raised different issues altogether which were both urgent as well as exigent. Ithad contended that the government and police chief be directed to probe all such crimes by launching appropriate prosecution against those guilty of the city riots of 1992-93.

On the other hand, the petition, filed by MMF, pleaded that the CBI be directed to take action against those indicted by the Srikrishna Commission.