Bilkis Bano case: Gujarat government moves Supreme Court; seeks review

Satya Prakash

New Delhi, February 13

The Gujarat Government has filed a petition in the Supreme Court seeking review of its verdict quashing the remission granted to 11 convicts of gang-raping Bilkis Bano and killing her family members during the 2002 Gujarat riots, saying the court’s adverse comments have caused “serious prejudice” to it.

“It is humbly submitted that the extreme observation made by this Hon’ble Court that the State of Gujarat “acted in tandem and was complicit with Respondent No3/accused” is not only highly unwarranted and against the record of the case, but has caused serious prejudice to the Petitioner-State of Gujarat,” the Gujarat Government’s review petition read.

“In view of the errors on the face of the record, brought to the notice of this Hon’ble Court as mentioned hereinabove, the interference of this Hon’ble Court is imperative and this Hon’ble Court may be pleased to review its impugned common final judgement and order dated 08.01.2024…,” it submitted.

The Supreme Court had on January 8 quashed the premature release of 11 men convicted of raping Bilkis Bano and killing seven of her family members during the 2002 post-Godhra riots, saying the Gujarat Government didn’t have the jurisdiction to deal with their remission pleas.

It had slammed the Gujarat government for being “complicit” and acting in tandem with one of the convicts and usurpation of powers not vested in it in granting remission to the convicts.