Bilkis Bano Approaches SC Challenging Premature Release Of Rape Convicts

New Delhi: In order to prevent the premature release of 11 convicts who had gang-raped Bilkis Bano and killed her family members during the 2002 Godhra riots, Bilkis Bano has petitioned the Supreme Court (SC). Bano submitted a review petition challenging the Supreme Court’s judgement from May that permitted the Gujarat government to implement the 1992 Remission Policy.

Bilkis Bano’s lawyer presented the case to the Chief Justice of India (CJI) DY Chandrachud for listing. The CJI stated that he will look into the matter to see if both pleas can be heard concurrently and if they may be heard by the same bench.

On August 15, the Gujarat government released the 11 convicts who had been given life sentences. According to Gujarat’s remission policy in effect at the time of the case’s conviction in 2008, all 11 life-term convicts were released.

Bano was allegedly gang-raped in March 2002 during the post-Godhra riots and left to die alongside 14 other family members, including her three-year-old daughter. When Vadodara rioters attacked her family, she was five months pregnant.