Gujarat govt opposes Godhara train coach-burning convicts' bail pleas

Gujarat government on Monday opposed the bail pleas of some convicts, who are sentenced to life imprisonment, and reiterated that the 2002 Godhra train coach-burning case was involved in serious offences as the convicts pelted stones and bolted the door of the train leading to the death of around 58 people .

The court was hearing bail pleas of some convicts sentenced to life imprisonment in the 2002 Godhra train coach-burning case.

Solicitor General Tushar Mehta submitted before the top court that it is just not a case of stone pelting but the accused had bolted the door of the train from outside and then pelted stones. However, the convicts' lawyers submitted that they have served 17 years in prison.A bench headed by Chief Justice of DY Chandrachud listed the matter for further hearing on Friday. The court also remarked that it is thinking of not granting bail to the ones who were given death sentences.

In the last hearing, the SC sought a chart mentioning the specific role of convicts, their age and the period undergone by them in matters pertaining to the 2002 Godhra train coach-burning case.

The court asked the advocates on record appearing on behalf of the petitioner and state counsel to sit together and prepare one consolidated chart for the convenience of the bench.

Appearing for the State of Gujarat, Solicitor General Tushar Mehta has strongly opposed the bail pleas of the convicts saying that it was a very serious crime. He has submitted that it was the rarest of rare offences. He has also submitted that the cases of convicts could not be considered for premature release under the Gujarat state's policy as provisions of the Terrorist and Disruptive Activities (Prevention) Act (TADA) had been invoked against them.

The court was hearing the bail pleas of some convicts in the matter. The state government has also filed appeals against the Gujarat High Court order which has commuted the sentence of some convicts from the death penalty to life imprisonment. Around 58 people lost their lives when some coaches of Sabarmati Express were torched at the Godhra Railway Station in Gujarat on February 27, 2002. The incident triggered large-scale riots in Gujarat. A local court in 2011 convicted 31 accused and acquitted 63 people. Eleven accused were sentenced death penalty while the rest were awarded life imprisonment.

Later Gujarat High Court upheld the trial court decision to convict the 31 accused but commuted the death sentence of the 11 to life imprisonment. Convicts moved the Supreme Court challenging the Gujarat High Court order.