Bilkis Bano case: State govt should not be selective in remission, SC tells Gujarat govt | India News – Times of India
The Gujarat government, which had released all 11 convicts in the Bilkis Bano gang-rape case from the 2002 riots, was defending its decision.
The top court’s observation came in response to the submission by additional solicitor general S V Raju, appearing for the Gujarat government, that law says a chance must be given to even the hardened criminals to reform themselves.
The law officer submitted the crime committed by the 11 convicts was “heinous” but does not fall in the rarest of rare category.
“Therefore, they deserve the chance of reformation. Person may have committed the offence … Something may have gone wrong in a particular moment. Later, he can always realise the consequences.
“This can largely be determined from their conduct in jail, when released on parole, or furlough. All these show they have realised what they had done is wrong. Law is not that everyone should be punished perpetually. Chance should be given for reformation,” Raju said.
Responding to the submission, a bench of Justices BV Nagarathna and Ujjal Bhuyan wanted to know how far the law is being applied to other inmates in jail.
“Why are our jails overcrowded? Why is the the policy of remission being applied selectively?
“Opportunity to reform and reintegrate must be given to every prisoner not only to few prisoners. But how far is remission policy being implemented where the convicts have completed 14 years? Is it being applied in all cases?” the bench asked Raju.
The ASG replied that all states will have to answer this question and that the remission policy varies from state to state.
Addressing the remission policies of various states, the bench remarked that the key consideration is whether the practice of early release is being applied consistently for all cases involving individuals who have served 14 years and qualify for such provisions.
“On the other hand, we have cases like Rudul Shah. Even though there was an acquittal, he continued to remain in prison. Extreme cases, both this side and that side,” the bench said.
Rudul Shah was arrested for his wife’s murder in 1953 and was in jail for many years, in spite of his acquittal by a sessions court in June 3, 1968. He was finally released in 1982.
The ASG submitted the opinion given by the CBI on remission of the sentence of the 11 convicts shows there was no application of mind.
The CBI had said the offence committed was “heinous, grave and serious” and hence the convicts “cannot be released prematurely and no leniency may be given” to them.
Raju said,”They just narrate facts. Except for stating the offence was heinous, nothing is mentioned. Officer sitting in Mumbai has no knowledge of ground reality. Opinion of local police superintendent more useful than that of CBI officer in this case.
“CBI’s opinion has no application of mind. They have repeated the facts and said it’s a heinous crime. What is the purpose of remission? Does committing a heinous crime debar you from getting its (remission’s) benefit?” Raju said.
The hearing in the case will resume on August 24.
Bilkis Bano was 21 years old and five months pregnant when she was gang-raped while fleeing the horror of the communal riots that broke out after the Godhra train-burning incident. Her three-year-old daughter was among the seven family members killed in the riots.
(With agency inputs)
