No review of order, Bilkis to get relief: SC

Taking offence to the Gujarat Government ignoring its April order, the Supreme Court on Monday put it on two weeks’ notice to compensate Bilkis Bano, who was gang-raped and 14 members of her family massacred during the 2002 riots, with Rs 50 lakh, a job and an accommodation to have a dignified life.

A 3-judge Bench headed by Chief Justice of India Ranjan Gogoi turned down the state government’s plea to reconsider its April order. The Bench which included Justices Sharad Arvind Bobde and S Abdul Nazir took notice of Bilkis Bano’s lawyer Shobha Gupta that she received no compensation despite the Court’s order five months ago. During the last hearing, the Court was told by the Gujarat government that action had been taken against the erring police officers in the case, including stoppage of their pension benefits.

On March 3, 2002, the family of Bilkis Bano was attacked by a mob in Ranadhikapur village near Ahmedabad, killing 14 members of her family and she was gangraped despite being fivemonth pregnant. The Apex Court had transferred the case in 2004 to Mumbai for hearing. Chief Justice Gogoi had pointed out that the rehabilitation of the victim is at priority, after her lawyer contended before the court she has lost everything in the tragedy.

“In today’s world, money is the best healer... We are not sure, if it can heal her, but what else can we do for her... As per her condition, ask for whatever compensation you want and we will pass orders accordingly,” Gogoi had told the Bano’s lawyer. On Jan 21, 2008, a special court in Mumbai convicted and provided life imprisonment to 11 men for raping Bilkis and killing seven members of her family, acquitting 7 other accused.

Nine years later, on May 4, 2017, the Gujarat High Court convicted two doctors and five policemen on the charge of dereliction of duty and destroying evidence in the case.

The SC had on July 10, 2017, rejected the appeals of four police personnel, including an IPS officer RS Bhagora, and two doctors, challenging the High Court’s conviction, saying that there was clear evidence against them.

The Supreme Court on Monday directed the Gujarat government to give within two weeks Rs 50 lakh compensation, a job and an accommodation of choice to Bilkis Bano, who was gang raped when she was five months pregnant during the 2002 riots in the state.