Bilkis Bano Case: Hearing was held in the Supreme Court on the case of premature release of 11 convicts in the case of gangrape of Bilkis Bano and murder of seven members of her family during Gujarat riots. While hearing the petitions challenging this decision, the court on Thursday (September 14) said that there are some convicts who have more privileges.
One of the convicts told the Supreme Court that granting remission of sentence for the reform and rehabilitation of convicts is a settled position at the international level and the contention of Bilkis Bano and others that they cannot be granted relief due to the heinous nature of the crime , can no longer be valid after the executive’s decision.
We understand the concept of immunity – Supreme Court
A bench of Justice BV Nagarathna and Justice Ujjal Bhuyan told senior advocate Siddharth Luthra, appearing for convict Ramesh Rupabhai Chandna, "We understand the concept of discount. This is universally accepted, but here they (the victim and others) are questioning it in the present case."
The bench asked the lawyer to assist by providing the judgments given on the petitions challenging the remission of sentence. The bench said that cases are usually filed against denial of such exemptions by states.
Convicts are more privileged in getting immunity
The bench said, "There are some convicts who are more privileged in getting such exemption." Luthra said that but the legal position and policy remain the same. They said, "Rehabilitation and reformation of convicts sentenced to life imprisonment is an established practice at the international level."
Hearing of petitions challenging remission of sentence
The court will resume hearing the petitions on September 20. Earlier, the bench had questioned Chandana for depositing the fine imposed on her at a time when the hearing on the petitions challenging the remission of her sentence is going on.
Gujarat government defends the decision of acquittal
The Supreme Court had on August 17 told the Gujarat government that state governments should not adopt a selective approach in granting remission to convicts and each The prisoner should be given the opportunity to reform and reintegrate with society. The Gujarat government had defended its decision to grant premature release to all 11 convicts in the case.
Crime against humanity
Trinamool Congress (TMC) MP Mahua Moitra had told the Supreme Court that the gang rape of Bilkis Bano and the murder of seven members of her family was a crime against humanity. Was. He had accused the Gujarat government of failing to comply with its constitutional obligation to protect the rights of women and children by granting remission of sentence to 11 convicts in this case.
Challenge to remission of sentence
In this case, along with Bilkis’s petition, Marxist Communist Party (CPI-M) leader Subhashini Ali, independent journalist Revati Lal and former Vice-Chancellor of Lucknow University Ruprekha Verma. Others have challenged the relaxation in punishment by filing public interest litigations. TMC MP Moitra had also filed a PIL.