The Supreme Court of India has announced that it will conduct final hearings on May 6 and 7 for the appeals concerning the 2002 Godhra train burning case, which includes submissions from the Gujarat government and several convicts. The bench, consisting of Justices JK Maheshwari and Rajesh Bindal, is set to deliberate on the pivotal legal challenges and submissions presented in this high-profile case.
Senior advocate Sanjay Hegde, representing one of the convicts, has been instructed by the bench to submit a revised compilation of his arguments by May 3. This compilation must clearly outline the charges, the decisions of lower courts, and the materials supporting the convict’s defense, organized in a heading-wise format for clarity.
The court has also directed other advocates, representing additional convicts and the state government, to prepare similar comprehensive preliminary compilations. These documents are crucial as they provide a structured insight into the arguments and evidence to be considered during the hearings.
Justice Maheshwari emphasized the significance of the case by allocating full days for the hearings on the specified dates, ensuring no other cases are scheduled unless expressly directed by the court. The registry may seek further directives from the Chief Justice of India if necessary to accommodate the extensive review this case demands.
The case dates back to February 27, 2002, when 59 people lost their lives as the S-6 coach of the Sabarmati Express was set ablaze in Godhra, Gujarat, leading to severe riots across the state. The Gujarat High Court, in October 2017, upheld the convictions of several individuals and reduced the death sentences of 11 convicts to life imprisonment.
The Gujarat government, expressing dissatisfaction with the high court’s decision to commute the death sentences, indicated to the Supreme Court in February 2023 its intention to seek the death penalty for these 11 individuals. During prior hearings, it was highlighted that the trial court had initially sentenced these 11 convicts to death, along with life terms for 20 others.
