Bilkis Bano moves Supreme Court challenging release of 11 rape convicts

Mangalore Today News Network

New Delhi, Nov 30, 2022: Bilkis Bano has moved the Supreme Court against the remission of sentence and the release of convicts in the 2002 gang-rape case. The 11 men were sentenced to life imprisonment for gang-raping her and murdering her family members.

 

Bilkis Bano was 21 years old and five-months pregnant when she was gang-raped while fleeing the riots that broke out after the Godhra train burning incident in Gujarat. Her three-year-old daughter was among the seven family members killed.

The 11 men convicted in the case 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.

On Wednesday, Bilkis Bano challenged the May order of the Supreme Court that allowed the Gujarat government to apply 1992 remission rules in the case. She also filed a writ petition challenging the premature release of 11 rape convicts.

The plea stated that the 11 convicts could not have been release from jail and remission policy of state of Maharashtra would govern this case.

The matter was mentioned before Supreme Court Chief Justice DY Chandrachud for listing today. CJI Chandrachud said he examine the issue of whether both pleas can be heard together and if they can be heard before the same bench.

Courtesy: India Today