SC rejects Gujarat govt's plea seeking review of verdict in Bilkis Bano case

New Delhi The Supreme Court dismissed a petition filed by the Gujarat government on Thursday seeking a review of the court's verdict, which held certain observations against the state, while also quashing the remission granted to 11 men convicted of raping Bilkis Bano and killing seven of her family members during the 2002 riot.

A bench of Justices B V Nagarathna and Ujjal Bhuyan also denied the move to have the review petition heard in open court.

"Having carefully gone through the Review Petitions, the order under challenge and the papers annexed therewith, we are satisfied that there is no error apparent on the face of the record or any merit in the Review Petitions, warranting reconsideration of the order impugned. The Review Petitions are, accordingly, dismissed," the bench said.

The Gujarat government in its plea had said the apex court's observation in the January 8 judgment, holding the state guilty of "usurpation of power" and "abuse of discretion" for complying with an order of another top court bench, was an "error apparent on the face of the record" primarily on three grounds.

With PTI inputs