The Supreme Court will hear today multiple applications filed by the convicts in the Bilkis Bano case seeking an extension of time to surrender before jail authorities.
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NEW DELHI: The Supreme Court of India is set to hear multiple applications filed by the convicts in the Bilkis Bano case, who are seeking an extension of time to surrender before jail authorities. This development follows the Supreme Court’s decision last week to overturn the remission orders issued by the Gujarat government, which had allowed the early release of 11 convicts sentenced to life imprisonment for multiple murders and gang rapes during the 2002 Gujarat communal riots.
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The convicts, initially released in August 2022 after serving only 14 years of their sentence under a 1992 remission policy, now face the prospect of returning to jail. The bench, comprising Justices BV Nagarathna and Ujjal Bhuyan, ruled that the State of Gujarat did not have the jurisdiction to grant remission in this case, as the trial was conducted in Maharashtra. The convicts were given a two-week deadline to surrender, which is fast approaching.
Senior Advocate V Chitambaresh, representing three of the convicts, urgently mentioned their applications before a bench led by Justice Nagarathna, seeking an extension of the surrender deadline. The court was informed that additional applications would be filed during the day. In response, Justice Nagarathna directed the registry to consult Chief Justice DY Chandrachud regarding the reconstitution of the bench that delivered the verdict and the listing of the applications for hearing.
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The bench, which includes Justices BV Nagarathna and Ujjal Bhuyan, is scheduled to hear the applications today. The names of the convicts seeking an extension and the reasons cited for their requests include various personal and health-related issues.
The Supreme Court’s decision on January 8 to set aside the remission of these 11 convicts marked a pivotal moment in the case. The lengthy hearing, which began in August and saw the judgment reserved on October 12, involved various legal representatives. Advocate Shobha Gupta appeared for Bilkis Bano, while Senior Advocates Indira Jaising, Vrinda Grover, Aparna Bhat, Nizamuddin Pasha, and Pratik R Bombarde represented public interest litigants. Additional Solicitor-General SV Raju represented both the State of Gujarat and the Union of India, with the convicts being represented by Senior Advocates Sidharth Luthra, Rishi Malhotra, S Guru Krishnakumar, Advocate Sonia Mathur, and others.
This case, continues to garner significant attention, highlighting the complexities and sensitivities involved in the Indian judicial system’s handling of such high-profile and emotionally charged cases.
CASE:
Bilkis Yakub Rasool v. Union of India & Ors., Writ Petition (Criminal) No. 491 of 2022
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