Timeline of events in Bilkis Bano case: All you need to know

The Supreme Court quashed the remission of 11 convicts, directing them to return to jail on Monday, January 8. The Supreme Court bench headed by Justices B V Nagarathna and Ujjal Bhuyan pronounced the verdict holding the PIL filed by Bilkis Bano challenging the remission as maintainable. The court observed that the Gujarat government  was not competent to pass the remission order. The 11 convicts were released from prison on August 15, 2022, following an early release order of the Gujarat government. 

Who is Bilkis Bano? 

Bilkis Bano was 21-years-old and five months pregnant when she was raped while fleeing her native place during the 2002 Gujarat riots which broke out after the Godhra train-burning incident. Her three-year-old daughter was among the seven family members killed in the riots.

Timeline of events in Bilkis Bano case 

• Dec 2003: SC directs CBI inquiry into Bilkis Bano's case.
• Jan 21, 2008: A special court convicts 11 men and sentences them to life imprisonment for raping Bilkis Bano and murdering seven of her family members.
• Dec 2016: Bombay HC reserves judgment on appeals filed by 11 prisoners who had been sentenced to life imprisonment.
• May 2017: Bombay High Court upholds life sentences of the 11 convicts.
• Apr 23, 2019: SC asks the Gujarat government to pay compensation of Rs 50 lakh to Bilkis Bano.
• May 13. 2022: SC directs Gujarat government to consider the plea of a convict for pre-mature release in terms of its policy of July 9, 1992.
• Aug 15, 2022: As part of the Gujarat government's remission policy, 11 convicts are released from Godhra sub-jail.
• Aug 25, 2022: SC issues notice to the Centre and Gujarat government on PIL jointly filed by former CPI MP Subhashini Ali, journalist Revati Laul and professor Roop Rekha Verma against the premature release of convicts.
• Nov 30, 2022: Bilkis Bano moves SC challenging the Gujarat government's decision to grant remission to 11 convicts saying their premature release has "shaken the conscience of society".
• Dec 17, 2022: SC dismisses Bilkis Bano's plea seeking a review of its May 13 verdict in which it had said the state of Gujarat was the "appropriate government" competent to examine the application for the pre-mature release filed by a convict in the gangrape and murder case.
• Mar 27, 2023: SC notice to Centre, Gujarat government and others on a plea filed by Bilkis Bano.
• Aug 7, 2023: SC starts final hearing on petitions challenging the Gujarat government's decision to grant remission.
• Oct 12, 2023: SC reserves its verdict after an 11-day hearing on the petitions, including the one filed by Bilkis Bano.
• Jan 8, 2024: SC quashes remission to 11 convicts, saying the orders were "stereotyped" and passed without application of mind. SC directs convicts to surrender to jail authorities within two weeks. 
   

(With agency inputs)