Supreme Court to constitute a special bench to hear Bilkis Bano case

Today, the Supreme Court bench agreed to constitute a special bench for hearing pleas challenging the order of the Gujarat Government in the Bilkis Bano case. The Gujarat Government’s order was to allow a premature release of the 11 convicts in the Bilkis Bano rape case. This is the second time, the Supreme Court bench agreed to constitute a bench for hearing the matter. Today, the matter was mentioned before the Chief justice of India DY Chandrachud, Justice JB Pardiwala, and Justice PS Narasimha. 

During the hearing, Advocate Shobha Gupta, Bano’s counsel, claimed that the matter was mentioned earlier four times but is yet to be taken for preliminary notice. Firstly, it was mentioned on November 30, 2022, before a two-judge bench comprising Justice Bela M. Trivedi and Justice Ajay Rastogi. Further, the case was mentioned on 14 December 2022 and was listed on January 2023. Following this, Advocate Gupta mentioned the case on January 20 for a listing of the matter but the bench was then not able to hear the matter on mentioned dates, January 24 and 31 because the Constitution bench was hearing a matter related to passive euthanasia. Hearing the Advocate’s concern, CJI DY Chandrachud assured to constitute a special bench.