The Supreme Court on Monday allowed Bilkis Bano, who had survived a gangrape in 2002, to appeal for higher compensation from the government. The court told the petitioner that a Special Leave Petition (SLP) would have to be filed for the compensation to be hiked.
The apex court also sought a reply from the Gujarat government over any disciplinary action launched against the police officers at fault, for allegedly messing up the investigation into the gangrape that took place in the aftermath of the 2002 Godhra riots. The Gujarat government is expected to supply a detailed answer within four weeks on the issue.
A mob gangraped Bilkis Bano in Gujarat’s Dahod district while she was fleeing with her family after the Godhra riots. Several of her family members, including her three-year-old daughter, were killed by the mob in the riots. Bano was reportedly six months pregnant when the men gangraped her.
Earlier in May, the Bombay High Court upheld the conviction of 12 people in connection with the gangrape, while setting aside the acquittal of five policemen.
(with inputs from PTI)
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