Bilkis Bano case hearing deferred to July on procedural grounds

The hearing in the Bilkis Bano case has been deferred to July after counsel for some of the convicts raised a dispute on Bano's affidavit regarding service of notice.

The development took place on Tuesday in Supreme Court during resumed hearing of a batch of pleas challenging the decision of Gujarat government to grant remission to eleven convicts held guilty of gang-raping Bilkis Bano and murdering her family members during the 2002 Godhra riots.

The counsel for convicts alleged Bano had made a false claim in the affidavit regarding respondents refusing to accept service. The counsel claimed service could not be completed since respondents were out of station. The convicts sought criminal action against Bano. Her lawyer strongly denied the allegations.


The bench ordered completion of service on the unserved respondents. The bench headed by justice KM Joseph disapproved of the delay. He remarked it was clear that respondents didn't want "this bench" to hear the matter. Justice Joseph, who will retire on June 16, offered to sit during the vacation (in June). But respondents expressed unwillingness. The judge said the bench had, at the last hearing, made it clear that the case "will be heard today for final disposal".