25.7 C
Guwahati
Thursday, July 10, 2025

SC to hear arguments on locus standi of PIL petitioners today

- Advertisement -
- Advertisement -

NEW DELHI, Aug 8 (PTI): The Supreme Court said on Tuesday it will hear arguments on August 9 on the
locus standi of multiple people who have filed PILs in the Bilkis Bano gang-rape case and the murder of
seven of her family members during the 2002 Gujarat riots.
Besides the petition filed by Bilkis Bano, several other PILs including one by CPI(M) leader Subhashini Ali,
independent journalist Revati Laul and former vice-chancellor of Lucknow University Roop Rekha Verma
have challenged the remission. Trinamool Congress (TMC) MP Mahua Moitra has also filed a PIL against
the remission.
Senior advocate Sidharth Luthra, appearing for one of the convicts, told a bench of Justices BV
Nagarathna and Ujjal Bhuyan that once the victim individual is in court, others may not have a locus
standi (entitlement to bring a lawsuit in court) to intervene in the matter of this nature.
“We have heard counsel for the parties. The other writ petitions are in nature of PILs. A preliminary
objection has been raised with respect to the maintainability of the PILs. In order to hear the preliminary
objection, list the matter tomorrow at 3 pm,” the bench said.
Senior advocate Indira Jaising, appearing in one of the PILs, submitted she will not address the court on
the facts of the case and argue purely on the proposition of law.
The convicts in the Bilkis Bano gang-rape case and murder of seven of her family members during the
2002 Gujarat riots chased her with a “blood thirsty approach” to hunt Muslims and kill them, the apex
court was told on Monday, as it commenced
the final hearing on a batch of pleas challenging the remission granted last year to all the 11 convicts in
the case.
The top court had on April 18 questioned the Gujarat government over the remission granted to the 11
convicts, saying the gravity of the offence should have been considered before showing leniency, and
wondered if there was any application of mind. All of them had walked free on August 15, 2022.
Asking for reasons for the premature release of the convicts, the top court had also questioned frequent
parole granted to them during their incarceration.
“It (remission) is a kind of grace, which should be proportional to the crime,” it had said.
Terming Bilkis Bano’s gang-rape and the murder of her family members a “horrendous” act, the apex
court had on March 27 asked the Gujarat government whether uniform standards, as followed in other
murder cases, were applied while granting remission to the convicts.
Bilkis Bano was 21 years old and five months pregnant when she was gang-raped while fleeing the
horror of the communal riots that broke out after the Godhra train-burning incident. Her three-year-old
daughter was among the seven family members killed in the riots.

- Advertisement -
The Hills Timeshttps://thehillstimes.in/
Welcome to The Hills Times, your trusted source for daily news and updates in English from the heart of Assam, India. Since our establishment in 2000, we've been dedicated to providing timely and accurate information to our readers in Diphu and Guwahati. As the first English newspaper in the then undemarcated Karbi Anglong district, we've forged a strong connection with diverse communities and age groups, earning a reputation for being a reliable source of news and insights. In addition to our print edition, we keep pace with the digital age through our website, https://thehillstimes.in, where we diligently update our readers with the latest happenings day by day. Whether it's local events, regional developments, or global news, The Hills Times strives to keep you informed with dedication and integrity. Join us in staying ahead of the curve and exploring the world through our lens.
Latest news
- Advertisement -
Related news
- Advertisement -