'This evening, I will...': CJI on Bilkis Bano's plea against rapists, killers' release

The Supreme Court said on 22 March 2023 that it would constitute a special bench to hear the petition filed by Bilkis Bano, who was gang-raped and whose family was murdered during the 2002 Gujarat riots.

Chief Justice of India DY Chandrachud said that he will look into constituting the bench later in the day.

Bilkis Bano has challenged the remission of sentence and subsequent release of 11 convicts in the gangrape and murder case. Besides the plea challenging the release of the convicts, the gang rape survivor had also filed a separate petition seeking a review of the apex court's May 13, 2022 order on a plea by a convict.

Seven members of Bilkis Bano's family were also killed during the 2002 Gujarat riots.

In its May 13, 2022 order, the apex court had asked the state government to consider the plea of a convict for premature release in terms of its policy of July 9, 1992 which was applicable on the date of conviction and decide it within a period of two months.

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All 11 convicts were granted remission by the Gujarat government and released on August 15, last year.

Bano's review plea against the May 13, 2022 order, however, was dismissed by the top court in December last year.

(With PTI inputs)