The Supreme Court announced on Thursday that it will hear the appeals filed by the Gujarat government and several convicts in the 2002 Godhra train burning case on January 15.
The divsion bench of Justices J K Maheshwari and Rajesh Bindal emphasized that there will be no adjournments on the scheduled date. The tragic incident occurred on February 27, 2002, when the S-6 coach of the Sabarmati Express was set ablaze in Godhra, resulting in the deaths of 59 individuals and sparking riots across Gujarat.
The Supreme Court is considering multiple appeals challenging the Gujarat High Court's October 2017 ruling, which upheld the convictions of several individuals while commuting the death sentences of 11 others to life imprisonment.
Last February, the Gujarat government informed the Supreme Court of its intention to seek the death penalty for the 11 convicts whose sentences were reduced. During Thursday's proceedings, Gujarat's counsel, Swati Ghildiyal, requested a postponement of the hearing, citing her obligation to argue a death penalty case before another bench.
"We have to first understand what are the cases of individuals. What is the prosecution's case. Then we have to ascertain the roles," the bench observed, adding that hearing in the matter will take at least three days.
"Now we will not adjourn it on the next date," the bench said.
"At the request of Swati Ghildiyal, counsel appearing for the State of Gujarat, list on January 15, 2025," it said.
Here’s a rephrased version of your paragraph:
During a previous hearing before the Supreme Court, the state's counsel stated that the trial court had sentenced 11 individuals to death and awarded life sentences to 20 others in the case.
The High Court upheld a total of 31 convictions but commuted the death sentences of the 11 convicts to life imprisonment. While the state is appealing against the commutation of these death penalties, several convicts have also challenged the High Court's ruling that affirmed their convictions in the case.
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