The Supreme Court on Tuesday adjourned the hearing on the Bilkis Bano case to July 17 over hearing a batch of pleas challenging the remission granted to all the 11 convicts last year. All 11 convicts were granted remission last year in the charges of gang rape of Bilkis Bano and murder of seven of her family members during the 2002 riots that unfolded in Gujarat post-Godhra incident.
A bench led by Justice BV Nagarathna and Justice Prashant Kumar Mishra noted, in accordance with its May 9 order that notices have been published in local newspapers including Gujarati and English, against the convicts who could not be served with the notices. The top court then posted the matter for the next hearing on July 17 due to a shortage of time. Supreme Court earlier ordered the publication of notices in the local newspapers against all the convicts who could not be served notices including one whose house the local police found to be locked and phone switched off.
The central and Gujarat government had told the top court that they are not claiming any privilege and are not looking to file a plea seeking the review of March 27 order which asked for the production of original documents with respect to the remission granted to the convicts.
The Gujarat government raised objections over the series of pleas filed in case except the one by Bilkis Bano, saying it would have wide ramifications as every now and then third parties will approach the courts in criminal cases. On April 18, Supreme Court questioned the Gujarat government over their decision to grant remission to all the 11 convicts saying that the gravity of the offense should be considered and wondered if they have any application of mind. The court also questioned the frequent parole granted to the convicts during their incarnation
The Centre and Gujarat government then told the court that they might file a plea in seeking a review of its March 27 order, asking them to be ready with the original files on the grant of remission. The top court termed the Bilkis Bano rape and murder of her family members as a “horrendous” act and questioned the Gujarat government whether uniform standards are followed in other murder cases, were applied while granting remission to the convicts.
All the 11 convicts in the Bilkis Bano case were granted remission and they walked free on the Independence Day last year.
Series of PILs filed against the remission included that of CPI(M) leader Subashani Ali, independent journalist Revati Laul, former vice-chancellor of Lucknow University Roop Rekha Verma and TMC MP Mahua Moitra.
Bilkis Bano was 21 years old and five months pregnant when she was gang raped while saving herself from the horrors of the communal riots the gripped the state of Gujarat after the Godhra train-burning incident which claimed the lives of 59 Hindu pilgrims returning from Ayodhya. Daughter of Bilkis Bano who was three years old was among the seven members of her family who lost her life in the violent clashes.
