India’s top court has overturned the release of 11 Hindu men who were convicted of gang-raping a pregnant Muslim woman named Bilkis Bano and killing her relatives during the 2002 Gujarat state riots. The court has directed the men to surrender to prison authorities within two weeks. The men had been freed in August 2022 by the Gujarat government after the prison they were serving their sentence in recommended their release.
Bilkis Bano was three months pregnant when she was brutally assaulted and her seven relatives, including her three-year-old daughter, were murdered in the riots that claimed the lives of over 1,000 people, primarily Muslims. Prime Minister Narendra Modi was the chief minister of Gujarat at the time, and his Hindu nationalist Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) still holds power in the state.
The release of the convicted men sparked widespread condemnation from various quarters, including the victim’s husband, lawyers, and politicians. Multiple petitions were filed in the Supreme Court challenging the remission, including one by Bilkis Bano herself.
In its verdict, the court ruled that Gujarat did not have the authority to reduce the sentence since the trial had been moved to Mumbai, making the neighboring state of Maharashtra responsible for the decision. The court also found that a 2022 Supreme Court order, which directed the Gujarat government to consider remission, had been fraudulently obtained.
The Gujarat government has stated that it will comment on the verdict after reviewing the detailed order. Meanwhile, there has been no immediate reaction from the 11 men who were facing release.
The opposition Congress party has welcomed the court’s decision and hailed Bilkis Bano’s perseverance as a symbol of justice prevailing against the ruling BJP government. On social media, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi praised her tireless struggle.
There has been no response to the verdict from BJP spokespersons in both New Delhi and Gujarat.
The case of Bilkis Bano has garnered significant attention over the years and has come to represent a fight for justice and accountability. The court’s ruling to quash the release of the convicted men sends a strong message that crimes of this nature will not go unpunished.
The court’s decision highlights the importance of upholding the law and ensuring that justice is served. It also raises questions about the role of state governments in commuting or reducing sentences when trials are conducted in different jurisdictions.
The Bilkis Bano case serves as a reminder of the need for vigilance in protecting the rights of all individuals, regardless of their religious or ethnic background. It is a call to ensure that the wheels of justice continue to turn and that survivors of such heinous crimes find solace in knowing that their voices are heard and their perpetrators held accountable.
