Bilkis Bano case: SC seeks response from Gujarat govt in plea challenging remission granted to 11 convicts

The Supreme Court on Thursday sought a response from the Gujarat government on a plea challenging the remission granted to 11 convicts in the Bilkis Bano rape case. It has issued a notice to the state government and has posted the matter for hearing after two weeks.

"The question is, under Gujarat rules, are the convicts entitled to remission or not? We've to see whether there was an application of mind in this case while granting remission," the SC argued.

SC has directed petitioners to make 11 convicts parties in the case here.


The opposition has demanded justice for Gujarat riots survivor BilkisBano and has said that the government has made its stand clear with its silence on the release of 11 people convicted in the 2002 case of her gangrape and murder of her seven family members.

The convicts walked out of the Godhra sub-jail on August 15 after the Gujarat government allowed their release under its remission policy. They had completed more than 15 years in jail. A special CBI court in Mumbai on January 21, 2008, sentenced the 11 to life imprisonment on charges of gangrape and murder. Their conviction was later upheld by the Bombay High Court and the Supreme Court.

(With agency inputs)