Mumbai, India – Former Justice UD Salvi expressed regret for not being able to give the death penalty to the 11 men who were convicted of the gang-rape of Bilkis Bano and the murder of her family members in 2008. Salvi stated that although he would have preferred to sentence them to death, he could not do so as the offense was not due to personal enmity but was instigated. This statement comes after the Supreme Court cancelled the Gujarat government’s order granting early release to the 11 accused, and ordered them to surrender to the jail authorities within two weeks.
Salvi emphasized the seriousness of the crime and the need to consider it when granting premature release and remission. He also lauded the recent Supreme Court judgment, which held that the Gujarat government did not have the authority to release the convicts in 2022. Salvi believed that allowing them to remain outside of prison would validate “invalid orders.”
Bilkis Bano was 21 years old and five months pregnant when she was gang-raped while fleeing the riots that erupted after the Godhra train burning incident in Gujarat in 2002. Her three-year-old daughter was among the seven family members killed in the incident.
The convicts now have the option of filing a review petition before the Supreme Court or applying for fresh remission before the Maharashtra government as the trial was held in the state. The former Justice emphasized the gravity of the crime and the need to consider this when making decisions about early release or remission.
In conclusion, the Supreme Court’s decision to order the 11 men to surrender themselves and disregard the Gujarat government’s order for early release reflects the significance of the crime and the need to uphold justice in the legal system.