Eleven convicts in the Bilkis Bano gang-rape case, who were released on remission in 2022, have been ordered by the Supreme Court to surrender and return to jail within two weeks. The Gujarat government’s decision to grant remission to the convicts has been cancelled by the court, which deemed the state government incompetent to make such a decision. The court’s ruling came in response to Bilkis Bano’s request to revoke the remission granted to the 11 convicts. The Supreme Court stated that her request was valid and could challenge the remission. Upholding the importance of the rule of law, the court emphasized that it must be preserved regardless of the consequences. The court also highlighted that its earlier judgment in May 2022, allowing the convicts to seek early remission from the Gujarat government, was based on fraudulent means used by those filing for remission. The case was transferred to Maharashtra to ensure fair proceedings, making only the Maharashtra government authorized to grant remission. Bilkis Bano was raped at the age of 21 while fleeing the communal riots following the Godhra train-burning incident. Her three-year-old daughter and seven other family members were killed in the riots. Various petitions challenging the remission, including those from CPI(M) leader Subhashini Ali, independent journalist Revati Laul, and former vice-chancellor of Lucknow University Roop Rekha Verma, have been filed. Trinamool Congress leader Mahua Moitra has also petitioned against the premature release of the convicts. However, the Supreme Court did not address these petitions in today’s hearing.
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11 convicts in the Bilkis Bano gang-rape case expected to surrender within 2 weeks.
