The Supreme Court of India, today, granted bail to eight convicts of the 2002 Godhra train burning case. However, the Court rejected the bail application of convicts. A bench headed by Chief Justice of DY Chandrachud granted bail to the eight convicts on the grounds that they have spent over 17 years in jail.

The eight convicts are serving life imprisonment and their sentences were upheld by the High Court order.

Earlier, on Monday,  the bench rejected the bail application of those convicts who were awarded the death sentence by the trial Court but it was commuted to life imprisonment by the Gujarat High Court.

While 11 convicts were sentenced to death, 20 others were awarded life imprisonment by the trial court.

The Gujarat Government on Monday reiterated that the convicts of the Godhra train coach-burning case were involved in serious offences. Solicitor General Tushar Mehta submitted before the top court that the accused had bolted the door of the train from the outside.

However, the convicts' lawyers submitted that they have served 17 years in prison.

At least 58 people lost their lives when some coaches of Sabarmati Express were burnt at the Godhra Railway Station in Gujarat on February 27, 2002.

The incident triggered large-scale riots in Gujarat. A local court in 2011 convicted 31 accused and acquitted 63 people.

Eleven accused were sentenced to death and 20 were awarded life imprisonment by the trial court.

Later Gujarat High Court upheld the trial court decision to convict the 31 accused but commuted the death sentence of the 11 to life imprisonment.