Bilkis Bano case: judge who sentenced rapists questions their release

Days after eleven men convicted of raping Bilkis Bano and killing her family during the 2002 Gujarat riots walked free, Justice UD Salvi, now-retired who convicted the accused 14 years ago has raised questions on decision to set them free.

Justice UD Salvi (retired) has even criticised the way all convicts were welcomed as heroes with garlands and sweets.

‘Whoever took this decision should reconsider this, that's all I can say," Justice UD Salvi said while addressing the media in Mumbai on Tuesday. I don’t think the government considered the severity of crime, he added.

All the men walked out of a Gujarat jail on 15 Aug as India celebrated its 75th Independence Day after the state government allowed the release of convicted men under remission policy.

The state and Centre government drew massive criticism from opposition over the decision.“The government should have considered the punishment given to the convicts, the crimes they committed, and also the victim. I do not think any of this was done. I heard the guidelines followed while granting remission were from the 1992 policy and not the new policy formulated in 2014. The new policy does not have provisions for remission in such offenses,” Justice Salvi pointed out.

Justice Salvi mentioned that although the government has the right to give remission as per law, it should have been used thoughtfully.

Bilkis Bano was gang-raped and her family killed during Gujarat riots. Bano was 5-month pregnant at the time of the horrific incident. After the convicts were set free, Bilkis Bano said ‘the release has shaken her faith in judiciary’

Read More:- Over 6,000 citizens demand revoking remission of convicts in Bilkis Bano case