The Centre and Gujarat governments on Tuesday informed the Supreme Court that they will not seek a review of the top court’s earlier order directing them to place original records for remitting the sentence of 11 convicts in Bilkis Bano case.
The state and central governments also told the apex court that they would not claim privilege over the documents onremission of sentence and agreed to share the documents with the top court for its perusal. A bench of Justices KM Joseph and BV Nagarathna also asked the convicts, who have not filed their response to the pleas, to file their affidavits within two weeks.
As several counsel appearing for the convicts raised objections on not being served the notice on Bano’s plea and sought time, Justice Joseph said, “It is obvious, rather more than obvious, that you all do not want the hearing to be conducted by this bench.”
Bilkis Bano and others had approached the top court challenging the premature release of 11 convicts in the gang-rape case and murder of her family members during the 2002 riots.
The apex court has now posted the matter for directions on 9 May and said that case will be listed for hearing in July.
During last hearing, the Centre and state governments claimed privilege over the files relating to the grant of remission to the convicts and said they are likely to seek a review of the 27 March order whereby original files of the remission were sought.
Besides filing a petition against per-mature release of convicts, Bano had also filed a review petition seeking a review of its earlier order by which it had asked the Gujarat government to consider the plea for the remission of one of the convicts.
The review petition was dismissed.
