Supreme Court Verdict on Release of Bilkis Bano Convicts Challenged
The Supreme Court is set to announce its verdict today on the release of 11 convicts who raped Bilkis Bano and killed her family during the 2002 Gujarat riots. The convicts were released by the Gujarat government in 2022, which has sparked controversy and opposition from various groups.
Last year, the Gujarat government used an outdated law to release the convicts on Independence Day, a move that faced severe backlash from the Opposition, activists, and civil society. Bilkis Bano herself was not informed about their release.
Following their release, some of the convicts received a hero’s welcome and were even seen sharing the stage with a BJP MP and MLA. The court was made aware of these developments during the hearing.
The Supreme Court bench, comprising Justices B V Nagarathna and Ujjal Bhuyan, reserved its verdict in October after an 11-day hearing on the petitions, including one filed by Bilkis Bano. The court had requested the original records related to the remission from the Centre and the Gujarat government.
The Gujarat government justified the release of the convicts based on a 1992 remission policy, which has been superseded by a 2014 law that prohibits releases in cases of capital offenses. The state consulted a panel, which included individuals associated with the ruling BJP, to make this decision.
Several petitions were filed against the release of the convicts, with petitioners including Mahua Moitra from the Trinamool Congress, Subhashini Ali from the CPM Politburo, independent journalist Revati Laul, and former vice-chancellor of Lucknow University Roop Rekha Verma, among others.
During the hearing, the top court questioned the release, noting that the convicts’ death penalty was commuted to life imprisonment, and questioned why other prisoners were not granted the same relief. The court commented that the Gujarat government was on “thin ice” regarding the early release.
The Gujarat government, represented by Additional Solicitor General SV Raju, argued that the 1992 policy should be applied since the men were convicted in 2008.
Bilkis Bano was gang-raped at the age of 21 while fleeing during the communal riots that occurred after the fire in Sabarmati Express, which resulted in the death of 59 kar sevaks. Her three-year-old daughter was among the seven family members killed in the riots.
The Supreme Court’s verdict will provide clarity on the release of the convicts and the legal implications surrounding it.
The Supreme Court of India has recently announced its decision regarding the early release of the convicts involved in the Bilkis Bano gang-rape case. The court has rejected the plea for their early release, upholding their life imprisonment sentences. Bilkis Bano, a survivor of the horrific 2002 Gujarat riots, was brutally raped and her family members were murdered. The court’s decision ensures justice for Bilkis Bano and sends a strong message against heinous crimes, reaffirming the importance of protecting the rights and safety of victims.
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