Don’t blame judiciary for release of rapists, says judge who upheld Bilkis Bano case conviction
India Today
Justice Mridula Bhatkar, who had upheld the conviction of 11 convicts in the Bilkis Bano gang-rape case, urged people not to blame the judiciary for the release of the convicts, saying it was the government’s decision.
Justice Mridula Bhatkar, who had upheld the conviction of 11 convicts in the Bilkis Bano gang-rape case, urged people not to blame the judiciary for the release of the convicts, saying it was the government’s decision.
In fact, the judicial officers who have been connected with the Bilkis Bano case at various stages have said that the decision to give remission to the accused was a decision taken by the government and the judiciary cannot be blamed for it.
Refraining to comment on the current scenario, Justice Bhatkar said, “I don’t understand why people are protesting against the judiciary. Rather, the judiciary has tried its best to protect the rights of the people. We feel bad when we are criticised and we cannot defend ourselves.”
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The bench of justices Vijaya Tahilramani and Mridula Bhatkar had reserved the order after conducting a day-to-day hearing on appeals since July 2016.
Justice Mridula Bhatkar, speaking to India Today on the remissions that have been granted by the Gujarat government to the accused in the Bilkis Bano case of 2002, said, “All the three tiers of the judicial system have upheld the law, from Sessions to the Supreme Court have worked towards delivering justice to people.”
Justice Bhatkar, who is the chairperson of the Maharashtra Administrative Tribunal, was sitting in the division bench headed by Justice VK Tahilramani when the court conducted day-to-day hearings of appeals filed by the CBI and the convicts in the 2002 case.
