NEW DELHI, Dec 15: Close on the heels of the Gujarat government ordering premature release of 11 convicts in a case related to gang rape of Bilkis Bano and murder of seven of her family members during the post-Godhra riots in 2002, the Supreme Court on Thursday granted bail to a convict serving life imprisonment in the 2002 Godhra train coach burning case noting that he has been in jail for the last 17 years.
A Bench comprising Chief Justice D. Y. Chandrachud and Justice P. S. Narasimha took note of the submission of a lawyer appearing for Faruk, that he be granted bail considering the period undergone till now. The appeals against the conviction of several convicts are pending adjudication in the apex court.
Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, appearing for the Gujarat government, said it was “the most heinous offence” in which 59 people, including women and children were burnt alive and there was a need to hear the appeals of the convicts at the earliest.
Faruk along with several others was convicted for pelting stones at the coach of the Sabarmati Express. Mr. Mehta said usually stone pelting is an offence of minor nature. However, in the instant case, the train coach was bolted and stones were pelted to ensure that passengers cannot come out and moreover, stones were thrown at fire tenders also, the law officer said.
On February 27, 2002, 59 people were killed when the S-6 coach of Sabarmati Express was set afire outside the Godhra station platform triggering riots in the State.
The state government recently ordered release under a 1992 remission policy of the state government of all the 11 convicts in the Bilkis Bano case citing the length of period they had been behind the bars. The victim has filed a review petition in the Supreme Court against the state government’s order.
(Manas Dasgupta)
