38.6c New Delhi, India, Friday, August 08, 2025
Top Stories Supreme Court
Political NEWS Legislative Corner Celebstreet International Videos
Subscribe Contact Us
close
Judiciary

Godhra train burning case: SC rejects plea by convicts for hearing before 3-judge bench

By Harshvardhan Sharma      07 May, 2025 03:17 PM      0 Comments
Godhra train burning case SC rejects plea by convicts for hearing before 3 judge bench

NEW DELHI: The Supreme Court has rejected a plea by a few convicts that a two-judge bench cannot hear their appeals against conviction, as the matter involved the death penalty to 11 accused in the 2002 Godhra train burning case.

A bench of Justices J K Maheshwari and Aravind Kumar told the counsel that the rule and the apex court judgment did not bar hearing of the appeals in the present case by a two-judge bench, and commenced the final hearing in the matter.

The matter was related to on February 27, 2002 incident wherein, 59 people were killed as the S-6 coach of the Sabarmati Express was burnt by the convicts at Gujarat's Godhra, triggering riots in the state.

When the matter came up for hearing, senior advocate Sanjay Hegde, representing two convicts in the case, referred to the Red Fort terror attack case.

The counsel submitted that Mohammad Arif alias Ashfaq was sentenced to death in the Red Fort terror attack case and in that case, it was held that a three-judge bench has to hear cases pertaining to capital punishment.

Also Read: 'Godhra train burning,' SC to start final hearing on pleas of Guj & convicts on May 6 & 7

The bench, however, said, in the present case, the Gujarat High Court commuted the death penalty of 11 convicts to life imprisonment and did not award the death penalty. The trial court had awarded the death penalty in this case.

In a judgment delivered in September 2014 in the Red Fort case, a constitution bench of the apex court had ruled that in all cases in which a death sentence was awarded by the high court, such matters be listed before a bench of three judges.

Hegde contended that if a two-judge bench were to hand down the death penalty to some accused in the matter, then it has to be re-argued before another bench of three judges.

The bench made it clear that it is not inclined to accept this contention.

Citing relevant Supreme Court rules and the judgment, the bench said a three-judge bench has to hear appeals in cases where the high courts have either confirmed the death penalty or awarded it after hearing the appeals of parties. “The objection is repelled,” the bench said.

In April, the court had indicated that it would begin the final hearing in the matter on May 6 and May 7. The hearing will be on the appeals filed by the Gujarat government and several other convicts in the 2002 Godhra train burning case.

Several appeals have been filed against the October 2017 verdict of the Gujarat High Court. The high court had upheld the conviction of several convicts and commuted the death penalties of 11 people to life terms. Several convicts have challenged the high court's decision to uphold their convictions in the case. The state government has moved the apex court against the commutation of the death penalty to life term for the 11 convicts.
 



Share this article:

About:

Advocate Harshvardhan Sharma, founder and Editor-in-Chief of LawStreet Journal, is an award-winning ...Read more

Follow:
FacebookTwitterLinkedinInstagram


Leave a feedback about this
Related Posts
View All

Another CBI Officer Investigating Rakesh Asthana Moves SC Against Transfer, Makes Startling Revelations Another CBI Officer Investigating Rakesh Asthana Moves SC Against Transfer, Makes Startling Revelations

After A.K. Bassi, another CBI officer who was investigating corruption allegations against Special Director Rakesh Asthana moved the Supreme Court.

Ayodhya verdict: SC rules in favour of Ram Lalla, Sunni Waqf Board gets alternate land Ayodhya verdict: SC rules in favour of Ram Lalla, Sunni Waqf Board gets alternate land

SC bench led by CJI Ranjan Gogoi has allotted the dispute site to Ram Janmabhoomi Nyas, while directing the government to allot an alternate 5 acre land within Ayodhya to Sunni Waqf Board to build a mosque.

Supreme Court: Money Spent On Judiciary Less Than 1% In All States Except Delhi Supreme Court: Money Spent On Judiciary Less Than 1% In All States Except Delhi

The court guided all states to document their response to the commission's report within four weeks. If any of the states fail to file a response, it will be presumed that they have no objections to the recommendations made by the commission, the court said.

Supreme Court Top Panel Names Chief Justices for Bombay, Orissa and Meghalaya High Courts Supreme Court Top Panel Names Chief Justices for Bombay, Orissa and Meghalaya High Courts

On April 18, 2020, the Supreme Court Collegium recommended new Chief Justices for three High Courts. Justice Dipankar Datta was proposed as Chief Justice of the Bombay High Court, succeeding Justice B.P. Dharmadhikari. Justice Biswanath Somadder was nominated as Chief Justice of Meghalaya High Court, while Justice Mohammad Rafiq was recommended for transfer as Chief Justice of Orissa High Court.

TRENDING NEWS

in-house-procedure-had-legal-sanctity-sc-dismisses-justice-varmas-plea-against-recommendation-for-removal
Trending Judiciary
'In-house procedure had legal sanctity,' SC dismisses Justice Varma's plea against recommendation for removal

SC upholds in-house probe into Justice Varma, dismisses his plea against removal; says process is legally valid and judge’s conduct lacked credibility.

07 August, 2025 12:05 PM
sole-testimony-of-victim-even-without-medical-evidence-sufficient-to-uphold-rape-conviction-sc
Trending Judiciary
Sole testimony of victim even without medical evidence sufficient to uphold rape conviction: SC [Read Judgment]

SC: Victim’s sole testimony, even without medical evidence, sufficient to uphold rape conviction if found credible and consistent.

07 August, 2025 03:11 PM

TOP STORIES

bengaluru-court-convicts-ex-mp-prajwal-revanna-in-rape-case
Trending Judiciary
Bengaluru court convicts ex MP Prajwal Revanna in rape case

Bengaluru court convicts ex-MP Prajwal Revanna in rape case linked to explicit videos; one of four sexual abuse cases filed against him.

04 August, 2025 11:07 AM
sc-sets-aside-order-declaring-man-as-juvenile-on-basis-of-school-certificate
Trending Judiciary
SC sets aside order declaring man as juvenile on basis of school certificate [Read Judgment]

SC: School certificate from private school not valid proof of age, sets aside order declaring murder accused as juvenile.

04 August, 2025 11:24 AM
hp-may-vanish-in-thin-air-god-forbid-sc-on-ecological-imbalance-in-himachal-pradesh
Trending Judiciary
‘HP may vanish in thin air, God forbid', SC on ecological imbalance in Himachal Pradesh [Read Order]

SC warns HP may vanish due to ecological imbalance; seeks state’s action plan amid rising disasters, deforestation, and climate change threats.

04 August, 2025 11:31 AM
sc-grants-4-weeks-time-to-centre-to-frame-guidelines
Trending Judiciary
SC grants 4 weeks time to Centre to frame guidelines to ensure pedestrians right to use footpath

SC gives Centre 4 weeks to frame guidelines ensuring pedestrians’ right to obstruction-free, accessible footpaths under Article 21.

04 August, 2025 11:41 AM

ADVERTISEMENT


Join Group

Signup for Our Newsletter

Get Exclusive access to members only content by email