Supreme Court grants bail to 8 convicts and refuses relief to 4 on death row: Godhra train Burning Case

On April 21, 2023, the Supreme Court bench was hearing the Godhra train burning case of February 2002 in which around 2,000 people were killed. The bench Chief Justice of India DY Chandrachud and PS Narasimha granted bail to eight convicts on Session Court’s conditions and refused any relief to four convicts who were on death row. On February 20, 2023, the top Court sought details such as age and time served by them in prison regarding the convicts who applied for bail applications. During the hearing, Solicitor General Tushar Mehta (representing Gujarat Government) presented his disagreement with a decision of the Gujarat High Court to reduce the death sentence of 11 convicts to imprisonment. He also highlighted that the Trial Court gave life sentences to 20 convicts and 11 convicts were awarded death sentences. Also, Senior Advocate Sanjay Hedge submitted that the convicts were of 60 years of age now and urged the top Court to address whether the death sentence was maintainable or not against 11 convicts.