Bilkis Bano appraoches SC challeneging the premature release of 11 convicts
On Wednesday, Bilkis Bano petitioned the Supreme Court to overturn the release of the 11 prisoners who were freed on August 15 of this year. After her attorney brought up the issue before the CJI today, Chief Justice of India DY Chandrachud stated he will look into the plea’s listing.
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On Wednesday, Bilkis Bano petitioned the Supreme Court to overturn the release of the 11 prisoners who were freed on August 15 of this year. After her attorney brought up the issue before the CJI today, Chief Justice of India DY Chandrachud stated he will look into the plea’s listing.
The early release of the 11 defendants who were given life sentences in the 2002 gangrape case drew widespread criticism, and several petitions were filed in the top court contesting the Gujarat government’s decision. Bilkis Bano’s attorney on Wednesday submitted a writ petition contesting the sentence’s commutation while the cases are being heard.
The 11 men were found guilty of killing seven members of Bilkis Bano’s family in the 2002 riots and raping her in a group.
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The Gujarat administration claimed that the remission was given to them as a result of their “good behaviour” as the Supreme Court heard the earlier petitions filed in opposition to the remission.
The Gujarati government stated that the Centre has given its approval to the choice. However, it was disclosed in its affidavit that the CBI and the trial court’s presiding judge opposed the convicts’ release because of how serious and horrific their crime was.
The document further stated that one of the prisoners was arrested while on parole in 2020 for sexual harassment of a woman.
The subject became the centre of a political controversy prior to the Gujarat Assembly Election in 2022 after BJP MLA CK Raulji supported the Bilkis Bano rapists and said that some of the convicts were brahmins with good “sanskaar.”
A court chaired by Justice Ajay Rastogi declared in May 2022 that Gujarat’s government has the authority to hear the request for remission. On Wednesday, attorney Shobha Gupta represented Bilkis Bano, and she expressed scepticism that Justice Rastogi would be able to hear the case because he is now participating in a Constitution Bench hearing, “The review has to be heard first. let it come before Justice Rastogi,” CJI said adding that he will decide on the listing of the plea after looking into it.
