Hailing the Supreme Court ruling in the Bilkis Bano case, BRS leader and MLC K Kavitha emphasized that the decision sent a strong message that women in the country will be safe, secure, and protected. The Supreme Court recently reversed the remission of sentences of the accused in the Bilkis Bano case, involving gang-rape and murder during the 2002 Godhra riots.
Kavitha expressed her satisfaction with the verdict, stating, We are very happy with the Supreme Court’s verdict as it has sent out a strong message across the country that women will stay safe, secure and protected. She praised the intervention of the Supreme Court in reversing the decision of the lower court, which had freed the perpetrators.
The bench of Justices BV Nagarathna and Ujjal Bhuyan quashed the Gujarat government’s remission order, ordering the 11 convicts to surrender before jail authorities within two weeks. The court held that the Gujarat government lacked the authority to pass remission orders and that the appropriate government to decide on remission was the state within which the accused were sentenced.
The Supreme Court also concluded that the earlier order of May 13, 2022, directing the Gujarat government to consider remission as per the 1992 policy, was obtained by playing fraud on the court. The court criticized the Gujarat government for usurping the powers of the Maharashtra government and emphasized that the convicts had not approached the court with clean hands.
The case involved Bilkis Bano and others challenging the premature release of the 11 convicts. The Gujarat government had defended the remission by stating that the convicts had completed their 14-year prison sentence and exhibited good behavior.
Bano was gang-raped and left to die with 14 members of her family during the 2002 Godhra riots. She was five months pregnant at the time of the attack. The release of the convicts on August 15, 2022, had sparked public outrage over concerns about the victim’s safety and the disregard for public interest.
The Supreme Court’s ruling in the Bilkis Bano case has been widely regarded as a significant step toward ensuring the safety and protection of women in the country. It sends a strong message that crimes against women will not go unpunished and that justice will be served.
The decisive verdict has brought hope to many, highlighting the importance of upholding the rule of law and ensuring that accountability is maintained. This landmark judgment serves as a reminder that the rights of women must be safeguarded, and perpetrators of heinous crimes must face the consequences of their actions.
The ruling has sparked discussions about the need for stronger legislation and stricter enforcement to prevent violence against women and provide a safer environment for all. It is a call to action for society to continue striving for gender equality and to work towards a future where women can live free from fear and violence.
As the nation reflects on the significance of this ruling, it serves as an impetus for renewed efforts to create a society that not only condemns such heinous acts but also takes proactive measures to prevent them. Ultimately, it is a reminder that the fight for justice and equality is an ongoing endeavor that requires the collective effort of individuals, communities, and institutions.
