The Supreme Court on Monday sought a response from
the Centre, Gujarat government and others on a plea filed by Bilkis Bano, who
was gang-raped and seven members of her family were killed during the 2002
post-Godhra riots.
Bano has challenged remission of sentence of 11
convicts in the case.
While posting the matter for hearing on April 18, a
bench of Justices K M Joseph and B V Nagarathna said there is a gamut of issues
involved and it needs to hear the matter in detail.
The top court issued a notice to the Centre, the
Gujarat government and the convicts.
It also directed the Gujarat government to be ready
with the relevant files granting remission to the parties on the next date of
the hearing.
During the hearing, the bench observed that it would
not be overwhelmed by emotions in the case and would only go by the law.
On January 4, a bench comprising Justices Ajay
Rastogi and Bela M Trivedi took up the petition filed by Bano and other pleas.
However, Justice Trivedi recused from hearing the case without citing any
reason.
Bano had moved the apex court on November 30 last
year challenging the premature release of 11 lifers by the state government,
saying it has shaken the conscience of society.
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. The
review plea was later dismissed in December last year.
All 11 convicts were granted remission by the
Gujarat government and released on August 15 last year.