Bilkis Bano gang rape case: SC agrees to form special bench to hear plea against release of convicts

Digital Desk: The Supreme Court agreed on Wednesday to form a special bench to hear an appeal against the commuted sentences of 11 convicts in the Bilkis Bano gang-rape case, which also involves the murder of seven of her family members during the Gujarat riots in 2002.

Bano, who was represented by Shobha Gupta, was assured by a bench consisting of Chief Justice DY Chandrachud, Justices PS Narasimha, and JB Pardiwala that a fresh bench will be created. Gupta stated that the case needed to be heard urgently and that a fresh bench needed to be constituted. "I'll form a bench. I'll take a look at it this evening "the CJI stated.

In its May 13, 2022 order, the apex court had asked the state government to consider the plea of a convict for premature release in terms of its policy of July 9, 1992, which was applicable on the date of conviction, and decide it within two months.

Earlier, on January 24, the hearing on Bano's petition challenging the Gujarat government's decision to reduce the sentences of 11 gang rape defendants was postponed since the justices involved were members of a five-judge Constitution bench hearing a case involving passive euthanasia.

The gang rape survivor had filed a separate petition seeking a review of the highest court's May 13, 2022, ruling on a plea by a convict in addition to the suit contesting the release of the convicts.

The Gujarati government released all 11 prisoners on August 15 of last year after granting them remission. Nevertheless, in December of last year, the top court rejected Bano's request for a review of the May 13, 2022 order.