Introduction:

The Supreme Court has agreed to hear applications filed by three convicts in the Bilkis Bano case seeking an extension of time to surrender before jail authorities. Govindbhai Nai, Mitesh Chimanlal Bhatt, and Ramesh Rupabhai Chandana, among the 11 convicts, were sentenced to life imprisonment for multiple murders and gang rapes during the 2002 Gujarat riots. The Gujarat government had released them in August 2022 after serving 14 years, but the Supreme Court set aside the remission orders on January 8, directing the convicts to surrender within two weeks.

Arguments of Both Sides:

Senior Advocate V Chitambaresh, representing the three convicts, mentioned the matter before a bench led by Justice BV Nagarathna, seeking urgent listing due to the imminent expiry of the surrender deadline on January 21. Govindbhai Nai cited health issues and being the sole caretaker of aged parents, seeking four weeks. Ramesh Rupabhai Chandana requested six weeks for his son’s marriage, while Mitesh Chimanlal Bhatt sought six weeks for the impending harvest of crops. The court directed the registry to seek orders for the reconstitution of the bench and listing of the applications.

Court’s Judgement:

The Supreme Court had earlier set aside the remission orders passed by the Gujarat government, citing jurisdictional issues, and granted a two-week surrender window. The court’s decision underscores the importance of legal jurisdiction in matters of remission and reinforces the requirement for timely compliance with surrender directives.