On Friday, the apex court of the country maintained that the four convicts of Nirbhaya gang-rape case would get capital punishment as it shook the society with its brutality and inhumanity. As per the court, the case is the “rarest of the rare” crime and the convict deserves to be hanged till death.
Most of the people have praised the SC for its decision, as it will not only strengthen people’s faith in law but also be a precedent for those who want to indulge in heinous crimes. However, when the Nirbhaya rape case is compared with the Bilkis Bano rape case, it appears that the law has been a little lenient in the Bilkis Bano case.
Just a day before the Nirbhaya gang-rape case verdict, 4th May 2017, the Bombay HC rejected CBI’s plea to give death penalty to three of the convicts. It sentenced life imprisonment to 12 people while acquitted seven including doctors and policemen. The Bombay HC stated,
“We also cannot be unmindful of the fact that the incident occurred in 2002, fifteen years have elapsed since then. These accused have been in custody all this while. Looking to this fact, after a gap of 15 years, we are not inclined to enhance the sentence.”
If you don’t know about the Bilkis Bano case, read on to know details. Bilkis Bano and her family were attacked by a violent crowd at Randhikpur village, near Ahmedabad, on March 3, 2002, during post-Godhra riots. Bilkis Bano’s three years old daughter and other six members of her family were killed while six other members saved themselves by escaping from there. Bilkis was gang-raped and that too, when she was five months pregnant.
Now when the SC has awarded capital punishment in the Nirbhaya case, people are questioning the Bombay HC’s verdict in the Bilkis Bano case and asking the problem that the court had in giving death penalty to the convicts.
Brinda Karat, the CPM politburo member, appreciated the verdict of the Nirbhaya case but at the same time, she also pointed out the double standards of Indian judiciary while talking to TOI,
“The SC judgment upholding the death sentences of Nirbhaya’s rapists and murderers comes a day after the Mumbai High Court refused a CBI plea to hang those who were found guilty of Bilkis Bano’s gang-rape and the murder of seven others, including two children. Now will the Supreme Court, in the light of the Nirbhaya case, call for that file? Or will they, when they are appealed to, change the Mumbai High Court’s verdict and hang them? This subjective reasoning cannot work.”
Twitter is also abuzz with reactions from journalists, political leaders and common public:
What about Bilkis Bano?
Finally justice given in Nirbhaya case.Wat abt Bilkis Bano?We shd fight 4 harshest punishment 4 those beasts who raped her&killed her child
— Sharmistha Mukherjee (@Sharmistha_GK) May 5, 2017
Agree?
Bilkis Bano case fell within the category of 'rarest of the rare' cases and the guilty deserved the death sentence.
— Markandey Katju (@mkatju) May 5, 2017
Yes, it is!
Bilkis Bano survived such brutality, boldly fought long & hard. Police & doctors all connived to destroy her. It's a Rarest of rare case.
— Sushmita Dev সুস্মিতা দেব (@SushmitaDevAITC) May 6, 2017
Rightly said!
Why is #BilkisBano not in the rarest of rare categories. Saw her 3 yr old daughter bludgeoned & was gang raped?
— Swati Chaturvedi (@bainjal) May 5, 2017
You know what would truly be Uniform Civil code ? That Jyoti Singh and Bilkis Bano get the same justice, their murderers hanged !
— Rana Ayyub (@RanaAyyub) May 6, 2017
Is law supreme?
Nirbhaya killers given death sentence. Those who Gangraped Bilkis Bano, killed her child, given life. Law is supreme. Or is it an ass?!
— Rajdeep Sardesai (@sardesairajdeep) May 5, 2017
Bilkis is determined to fight further to get death penalty for her culprits and decision of the Nirbhaya case has been praised by her husband Yakub, as he feels that it will help in reducing such crimes.
What is your take in this matter? Do let us know in the comments section below.
