The states already covered are Bihar, Chhattisgarh, Delhi, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh, Jammu and Kashmir, Jharkhand, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Orissa, Punjab, Uttarakhand and Uttar Pradesh.

The main aim of Thursday's decision 'is to fulfill the assurances given by the government in both houses of parliament on the report of the Justice Nanavati Commission of Inquiry into the 1984 riots,' Information and Broadcasting Minister Ambika Soni told reporters after the cabinet meeting.

'Necessary instructions will immediately be issued to the concerned state governments and union territory administration for implementing the cabinet decision,' Soni added.