The Supreme Court will hear on Monday bail pleas of several convicts serving life imprisonment in the 2002 Godhra train burning case. A bench of Chief Justice D.Y. Chandrachud and Justices P.S. Narasimha and J.B. Pardiwala is scheduled to hear along with the bail applications, pleas of the convicts challenging their convictions.
On March 24, the Apex court noted that it will dispose of the bail applications on the next date of hearing. It took note of the submissions by Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, appearing for the Gujarat government, urging verification of certain factual details for some convicts.
The top court had, however, extended the bail granted to one of the convicts on the ground that his wife was suffering from cancer. Mehta had supported the extension of bail on medical grounds.
Earlier on March 17, the SC had said it will hear on March 24 the appeal of the Gujarat government and the bail pleas of several accused in the case.
On February 20, the state government communicated that it will be seeking death penalty to 11 convicts whose sentences in the 2002 Godhra train burning case were commuted to life imprisonment by the Gujarat High Court.
“It is consistent everywhere that the bogie (coach) was locked from outside. Fifty-nine died, including ladies and children,” Mehta informed the court. Sharing details on the matter, the law officer had said 11 convicts were sentenced to death by a trial court and 20 others granted life term in the case.
The HC upheld total 31 convictions in the case and commuted the death penalties of the 11 convicts to life term, Mehta had said.
On February 27, 2002, 59 people were killed when the S-6 coach of the Sabarmati Express was burnt at Gujarat’s Godhra, triggering communal riots in the state. The state government has come in appeal against the commutation of death penalty into life term for 11 convicts, Mehta had said. Several accused, he added, have filed pleas against the HC upholding their convictions in the case.
The top court has granted bail to two convicts in the case so far. Seven other bail pleas are pending adjudication in the matter.
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