Picture : ANI / X
The Supreme Court has dismissed applications from convicts in the Bilkis Bano case, seeking an extension of the surrender deadline set for January 21. The convicts had moved the court days after the remission granted by the Gujarat government was quashed, requesting additional time to surrender.
The apex court, while rejecting the extension pleas, stated that the reasons presented by the convicts for postponing surrender lacked merit. The court had annulled the remission on January 8, criticising the Gujarat government for being “complicit” and abusing its discretion. The convicts, initially released prematurely on Independence Day in 2022, were directed to return to jail within two weeks.
The matter was presented before a bench of Justices B V Nagarathna and Sanjay Karol, instructing the registry to place the applications before Chief Justice D Y Chandrachud for bench reconstitution, as the current bench expires on Sunday.
Senior advocate V Chitambaresh, representing some convicts, urged an urgent listing on Friday, emphasising the January 21 deadline for surrender.
The five convicts seeking relief were Govind Nai, Pradeep Mordhiya, Bipin Chandra Joshi, Ramesh Chandana, and Mitesh Bhatt.
Govind Nai, Pradeep Mordhiya, and Bipin Chandra Joshi cited ill health in their respective pleas. Nai stated that he suffered from asthma and had recently undergone an angiography. Mordhiya, having undergone lung surgery, claimed the need for regular consultations with doctors, while Bipin Chandra Joshi cited a recent leg surgery.
Ramesh Chandana and Mitesh Bhatt asked the court for an extension till winter crop harvesting was complete. Chandana emphasised this responsibility as the sole male member of his family.
