Syntax-based normalization on relative URIs?

Why are dot segments not removed when normalizing
relative URIs? For example this testcase from 4Suite:

   pathSegmentNormalizationTests = [
     ..
     ('a/b/../../c', 'a/b/../../c'),
     ..

   (and not "c" instead)

A short explanation or a link would be great.
Thank you!



Sebastian