In a significant development, the Supreme Court is poised to deliver its verdict on Monday, January 8, in a batch of petitions challenging the remission granted to the convicts involved in the Bilkis Bano gangrape case, which unfolded during the Gujarat riots of 2002. The case, marked by heinous crimes against Bilkis Bano and her family members, has been decided by a bench comprising Justices BV Nagarathna and Ujjal Bhuyan, who reserved judgment on October 12.

The heart-wrenching incident saw 11 individuals convicted for the gangrape of Bilkis Bano and the brutal murder of her family members during the Gujarat riots. The Gujarat government's controversial move to grant remission to these convicts has brought the matter before the apex court.

The legal intricacies of the case revolve around a May 2022 judgment that emphasized the consideration of remission applications in alignment with the state's policy where the crime occurred, rather than where the trial took place. Subsequently, the Gujarat government applied its remission policy to release the convicts, despite the trial having taken place in Maharashtra.

The 11 individuals set free following the remission are Jaswant Nai, Govind Nai, Shailesh Bhatt, Radhyesham Shah, Bipin Chandra Joshi, Kesarbhai Vohania, Pradeep Mordhiya, Bakabhai Vohania, Rajubhai Soni, Mitesh Bhatt, and Ramesh Chandana.

Gujarat Additional Chief Secretary (Home) Raj Kumar explained that the decision to release the convicts was based on factors such as the completion of 14 years in jail, along with considerations of age, nature of the crime, and behavior in prison.

The Gujarat government's decision to grant remission faced vehement opposition from various petitioners, including Bilkis Bano herself, who approached the Supreme Court seeking justice and a review of the remission granted to the convicts.

Case: Bilkis Yakub Rasool v. Union of India and ors.