SC Sends Notice to Centre, Gujarat Govt on Bilkis Bano's Plea Against Remission

The convicts in the Bilkis Bano gangrape case were released last year under the Gujarat govt's remission policy.

The convicts in the Bilkis Bano gangrape case were released from a sub-jail in Godhra on 15 August last year under the Gujarat government's remission policy.

(Photo: Altered by The Quint) 

The Supreme Court on Monday, 27 March, sought a response from the Centre, the Gujarat government and others on a petition filed by Bilkis Bano challenging the remission of 11 men convicted of gangraping her and killing seven members of her family during the 2002 Gujarat riots.

A bench of Justices KM Joseph and BV Nagarathna posted the case for hearing on 18 April, saying that there was a gamut of issues involved in the case and that it needs to be heard in detail.

Apart from seeking responses from the concerned parties, the apex court also asked the Gujarat government to keep ready the relevant files in connection with the granting of remission to the convicts.

The bench also said that it would go by the law and would not be overwhelmed by emotion while hearing the case, news agency PTI reported.

The convicts in the case were released from a sub-jail in Godhra on 15 August last year under the Gujarat government's remission policy.

Following this, Bano had filed a review petition of the Supreme Court's order in May 2022 which stated that the Gujarat government was the appropriate authority to grant remission to the convicts. The petition was dismissed in December last year.

However, Chief Justice DY Chandrachud said on 24 March that a special bench would be constituted to hear the plea.

(With inputs from PTI.)