Supreme Court asks Gujarat government for detailed reply in Bilkis Bano gang-rape case

New Delhi, October 23: The Supreme Court on Monday has asked for a detailed reply from Gujarat government within four weeks in connection with Bilkis Bano gang-rape case. Notably, Bilkis Bano was allegedly gang-raped and left for dead alongside 14 members of her family, including her 3-year-old daughter, during the 2002 Gujarat riots.

 

The Supreme Court has asked for a detailed reply from Gujarat government within four weeks in connection with Bilkis Bano gang-rape case. SC has also asked the BJP-led Gujarat government to apprise about any departmental action against the policemen convicted in the Bilkis Bano gangrape case.

During the hearing, Chief Justice of India Justice Dipak Misra further questioned state government how convicted policemen could go back to active service and called for a status report in the case. However, in the higher compensation sought by Bilkis Bano, the apex court allowed her to file separate plea seeking enhancement of compensation awarded to her by lower courts.

Bilkis Bano during the 2002 Gujarat riots was allegedly gang-raped and left for dead alongside 14 members of her family, including her 3-year-old daughter. She was then five months pregnant when rioters attacked her in Vadodara.

Bilkis Bano later approached the police station to register a complaint against the peoples who physically attacked her but the policemen dismissed her case and threatened her of dreadful consequences if she proceeded with the case. However, she approached the National Human Rights Commission of India and filed a petition in the apex court. In this case, 19 men including 6 police officers and a government doctor were charged and in January 2008, 11 of them were sentenced to life imprisonment for gang-rape and murder.