- The Supreme Court rejected the Gujarat government’s request to erase critical remarks in the Bilkis Bano case order.
- The court upheld its decision to cancel the remission granted to 11 convicts, including harsh observations against the state’s actions.
- The review plea was dismissed without an open-court hearing, affirming the earlier ruling’s legitimacy.
Why Did Gujarat Want the Criticism Removed?
The Gujarat government recently sought to have certain remarks removed from the Supreme Court’s January 8 order in the Bilkis Bano gang rape case. These remarks accused the state of being “complicit” and “acting in tandem” with the accused when granting remission to the 11 convicted individuals. The Gujarat government argued that these statements were damaging and contradicted the facts of the case.
However, the Supreme Court, in a firm response, rejected the review petition. The court stated that it found “no error apparent on the face of the record” that would justify reconsidering its previous decision. The two-judge bench also refused the request for an open-court hearing, further affirming their stand.
What Does This Mean for the Bilkis Bano Case?
The Supreme Court’s January ruling was pivotal in overturning the remission granted to the 11 convicts involved in the horrific gang rape of Bilkis Bano and the killing of her family members during the 2002 Gujarat riots. At the time, Bilkis was five months pregnant, and seven of her family members, including her three-year-old daughter, were killed in the violence.
The Gujarat government’s attempt to erase critical observations from the ruling has now been dismissed. The court also rejected a similar review petition filed by one of the convicts, Ramesh Rupabhai Chandana, reinforcing its stance that the remission order was improperly granted. The court previously ruled that the Maharashtra government, not Gujarat, should have handled the remission request since the trial had been shifted to Mumbai in 2004.
Conclusion: Upholding Justice for Bilkis Bano
This decision by the Supreme Court reinforces its earlier stand that the remission granted to the convicts in the Bilkis Bano case was unjust and improper. The court made it clear that the Gujarat government failed to act responsibly in handling the remission, stating that the state’s actions were in violation of legal procedures. This ruling ensures that justice is upheld for Bilkis Bano, as the convicts remain in prison, and the critical observations made in the case stay intact.
The Supreme Court’s dismissal of the review plea highlights the importance of accountability, especially when dealing with cases as sensitive and significant as the Bilkis Bano gang rape and murder case. It is a step toward ensuring that legal procedures are followed properly, especially in cases that have far-reaching impacts on justice and human rights.
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