Supreme Court rejects convicts' plea in Bilkis Bano case
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The Supreme Court, on Friday, declined to consider a plea by two of the 11 convicts in the Bilkis Bano case, who were challenging the January 8 verdict that annulled their remission.
The bench, comprising Justices Sanjiv Khanna and Sanjay Kumar, described the plea as "absolutely misconceived." The judges questioned the validity of the plea, emphasizing that the court cannot review an order passed by another bench of the Supreme Court.
"This plea is absolutely misconceived. How can an Article 32 petition be filed to challenge an order passed by another bench? We can't sit in appeal over an order passed by another bench," stated Justice Khanna.
Advocate Rishi Malhotra, representing convicts Radheyshyam Bhagwandas Shah and Rajubhai Babulal Soni, sought permission to withdraw the plea. Shah has also applied for interim bail.
In March, the convicts approached the Supreme Court, arguing that the January 8 verdict canceling their remission was in violation of a 2002 constitution bench order. They requested that the issue be referred to a larger bench for a definitive ruling.