Ludhiana/Delhi 8 January Sandeep Dhand :The Supreme Court’s reversal of the Gujarat government’s decision to reduce sentences for 11 convicts, including Bilquis Bano, in the 2002 riots case highlights the court’s stance against leniency. Bano, then 21 and pregnant, faced sexual assault after the Godhra train incident, leading to the loss of seven family members during the riots. Initially, the government had reduced the sentences on August 15, 2022, but the Supreme Court, on May 13, 2022, criticized this as a “misdirection of justice.” The court deemed the state’s intervention inappropriate, emphasizing the severity of the crimes. The convicts were directed to surrender within two weeks and self-surrender before jail authorities. This decision underscores the court’s commitment to justice and its refusal to compromise on the gravity of the 2002 riots and the resulting atrocities, ultimately ensuring the convicts serve their full sentences.
The Supreme Court’s resolute stance against the Gujarat government’s attempt to reduce sentences for the 2002 riots convicts, including Bilquis Bano, reaffirms the judiciary’s commitment to upholding justice. This decision sends a strong message about the gravity of the crimes committed during the riots and the court’s unwavering dedication to ensuring appropriate legal consequences.