Bilkis Bano case: SC to form bench to hear plea against early release of 11 convicts

The Supreme Court on Wednesday announced that it will constitute a bench to hear a petition objecting to the premature release of 11 convicts who had gang-raped Bilkis Bano and killed her family members during the 2002 Godhra riots.

A bench presided over by Chief Justice DY Chandrachud said, “I will have a bench constituted. Need to break two benches for it. Will look at it this evening.” The CJI said this after advocate Shobha Gupta, appearing for Bano, mentioned the plea seeking listing of the case and said that the matter is not getting listed.

Meanwhile, Justice Bela M. Trivedi had recused herself from hearing the case and attorney Gupta had earlier called for an urgent hearing and stated that the CJI should appoint a new bench. Earlier a bench consisting of Justices Ajay Rastogi and Bela M. Trivedi had ordered that the case will be heard by the bench in which Justice Trivedi is not a member, since she had recused herself from hearing it.

In addition to filing a petition opposing the premature release of prisoners, Bano also requested a review of an earlier decision in which it had been requested that the Gujarat government took into account a prisoner’s request for remission.

The petition for a review was denied. However, there have been some PILs filed asking for instructions to revoke the remissions given to 11 convicts.

Annie Raja, General secretary of The National Federation of Indian Women, Subhashini Ali, representative of the Communist Party of India, journalist Revati Laul,  professor and social activist Roop Rekha Verma, and TMC MP Mahua Moitra filed the arguments.

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