The Supreme Court said on Wednesday that a bench would be formed to hear a petition challenging the premature release of 11 convicts who gang-raped Bilkis Bano and killed her family members during the 2002 Godhra riots.
A bench headed by Chief Justice of India DY Chandrachud said, “I will have a bench constituted. Need to break two benches for it. Will look at it this evening.” The CJI said this after advocate Shobha Gupta, appearing for Bano, mentioned the plea seeking listing of the case and said that the matter is not getting listed.
Previously, advocate Gupta mentioned the subject for urgent hearing and stated that the CJI should form a fresh bench because Judge Bela M Trivedi had recused herself from hearing the appeal.
Earlier, a bench comprising Justices Ajay Rastogi and Bela M Trivedi directed that the matter be placed before the bench, which Justice Trivedi is not a member of because she recused herself from hearing the case.
