On Thursday, the Supreme Court agreed to hear a petition challenging the remission of 11 convicts in the Bilkis Bano case. It issued a notice to the Gujarat Government to file its response in the matter and asked the petitioners to make the 11 convicts party to the case. The matter will be taken up for hearing again after two weeks.
Separately, hearing the review petition filed by Congress MP Karti Chidambaram over its Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) ruling, the Supreme Court agreed to review its verdict on two points: the sharing of the Enforcement Case Information Report (ECIR) and the reversal of the presumption of innocence. It has issued a notice to the government to file its response on the matter.
Perusing the report of the technical committee appointed by the court, the CJI-led bench stated that it was “inconclusive” if Pegasus malware was found on inspected devices. Meanwhile, taking up the case of PM Modi’s security breach during his visit to Punjab, the CJI remarked that the Ferozepur SSP failed to discharge his duty to maintain law and order despite sufficient force and having the information two hours prior to PM Modi’s arrival.
HEARING EXCERPTS
- 11:39 AM
Mr. Sibal : 14 people killed. Pregnant women gangraped. A child of 3 years killed smashed to groud.
Justice Rastogi : Whatever they have committed, they have been convicted. The question is whether they are justified in considering remission.
- 11:38 AM
Mr. Sibal : In the night of Feb 28, her cousin delivered a baby girl. On Mar 3, 2002, they were proceeding to a village. A group started shouting "Musalmano ko maaro"..they had lathis and sickles..
CJI : These are all facts of the case..
- 11:40 AM
CJI Ramana : I am not a party to the judgment. I read somewhere Court has granted permission for remission. No, Court said only to consider
Justice Rastogi : We are only concerned if remission was in the parameters of law.
Justice Rastogi : Merely because the act was horrifc, is that sufficient to say remission is wrong?
- 11:42 AM
CJI Ramana: That's all we directed, to consider.
CJI Ramana to Gujarat Govt counsel : You file your reply.
Gujarat Govt Counsel : Writ is not maintainable. They are strangers.
Justice Rastogi : Day in and day out remission is granted to convicts of life sentence, what is the exception.
CJI : Let notice be issued. Counsel for convicts say they are not made party.
CJI : Mr.Sibal why have you not made them parties?
Mr. Sibal : We are challenging state action.
CJI : But they are affected
- 11:43 AM
Mr. Sibal : I will make them parties.
CJI dictates order : Petitioner directed to make the convicts parties. Issue notice. List after two weeks.
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