Important cases heard by the Supreme Court on Thursday, January 18:
* Days after the SC quashed the remission granted to them by the Gujarat government, five of those convicted of gang-raping Bilkis Bano and massacring seven members of her family during the 2002 communal riots moved the top court seeking more time to surrender.
* Making a strong case for growing genetically modified (GM) crops for enhanced food security, the Centre told the SC that India is already importing huge quantities of edible oil extracted from genetically altered oilseeds for domestic consumption and “unfounded fears” about their adverse impact is hurting farmers, consumers and industry.
* SC refused to cancel Congress MLA Sukhpal Singh Khaira’s bail in a 2015 drugs haul case, rejecting the Punjab government’s appeal challenging a Punjab and Haryana Court order granting him the relief.
* The Gujarat government told the SC that the petitioners who have sought a probe into the alleged fake encounters in the state from 2002 to 2006 need to explain the reasons for their “selective public interest” in raising the issue.
