New Delhi: The Gujarat government’s decision to release 11 individuals convicted for the gangrape of Bilkis Bano and the murder of her family members during the 2002 communal riots has been overturned by the Supreme Court of India. The convicts, who were released by the Gujarat government in 2002, have been instructed to surrender within a two-week period.
In its verdict on several petitions challenging the government’s decision in 2022, the court stated that the Gujarat government lacked the authority to determine the reduction of the convicts’ sentences.
The Supreme Court emphasized that the responsibility to decide on the plea for sentence reduction lies with the state where the trial occurred, which in this instance is Maharashtra.
In a strongly worded rejoinder, the court said the Gujarat government had usurped the power of the Maharashtra government by not filing the review petition against the May 2022 judgment.
Justice BV Nagarathna, announcing the verdict, said the Supreme Court must act as a beacon in upholding the rule of law.
The court also pulled up the Gujarat government for passing the remission order in August 2022 in a cyclostyled manner, with no application of mind.
