Landmark Verdict: Supreme Court Overturns Gujarat Government's Early Release Decision in Bilkis Bano Gang Rape Case

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Bilkis Bano gang rape case: In a groundbreaking decision on Monday, January 8, the Supreme Court, led by Justice BV. Nag Rathna and Justice Ujjal Bhuiyan, reversed the Gujarat government's move to release 11 convicts in the Bilkis Bano gang rape case before serving their full sentences. 

The bench emphasized that the punishment is intended to deter crime and, as the trial took place in Maharashtra, only the Maharashtra government has the authority to decide on parole. 

The Gujarat government has been denied the right to pardon the convicts, questioning how they could forgive individuals convicted in a state where the crime occurred and the sentence was pronounced.

The court further asserted its authority by ordering all 11 convicts to surrender within two weeks. The case dates back to the gang rape of pregnant Bilkis Bano during the 2002 Gujarat riots, leading to the arrest of the accused in 2004. In January 2008, the CBI Special Court sentenced them to life imprisonment. 

Despite the Bombay High Court upholding the convictions, all 11 convicts were controversially released by the Gujarat government on August 15, 2022, under the guise of the Independence Day celebrations, prompting legal challenges.

In a significant development, on November 30, 2022, the Supreme Court heard two petitions challenging the premature release. The recent ruling underscores the court's commitment to justice and accountability, ensuring that those found guilty of heinous crimes face the consequences, irrespective of political considerations.