New Delhi: The Supreme Court of India is set to commence the final hearing on May 6 regarding the appeals filed in connection with the 2002 Godhra train burning case. These appeals have been submitted by both the Gujarat Government and several convicts challenging or contesting the verdicts delivered earlier, reported the Tribune.
A bench headed by Justice JK Maheshwari directed senior advocate Sanjay Hegde, who is representing one of the convicts, to submit a revised compilation of arguments, including details of the charges, trial court findings, and supporting evidence, by May 3. Similarly, the Gujarat Government and other convicts’ counsels have also been asked to file their preliminary submissions in the same format.
“This case will need continuous hearings for at least two weeks. We will begin on May 6 and 7, and no other matters will be taken up on these days unless specifically required,” the bench emphasized. The Supreme Court registry was directed to seek necessary approvals from the Chief Justice of India to ensure exclusive hearing days.
The Godhra train burning incident, which occurred on February 27, 2002, claimed the lives of 59 individuals when the S-6 coach of the Sabarmati Express was set ablaze at the Godhra railway station in Gujarat, triggering massive communal riots across the state.
Several appeals are currently pending before the apex court against the Gujarat High Court’s October 2017 judgment. The High Court had upheld the convictions of 31 individuals but commuted the death penalties of 11 convicts to life imprisonment.
The Gujarat Government had informed the Supreme Court in February 2023 of its intent to seek reinstatement of the death penalty for the 11 convicts whose sentences had been reduced to life terms by the High Court. The trial court had originally sentenced those 11 to death and awarded life terms to 20 others.
While the State has challenged the commutation of the death sentences, several convicts have appealed against the High Court’s decision to uphold their convictions.
