New Delhi: The Supreme Court will hear the plea of Bilkis Bano challenging the pre-mature release of 11 convicts in the 2002 rape and murder case on December 13.

A bench of Justice Ajay Rastogi and Justice Bela Trivedi is scheduled to hear the matter.

The 11 men, sentenced life imprisonment for the gang rape of Bilkis Bano and the murder of seven of her family members during the 2002 Gujarat riots, walked out of the Godhra sub-jail on August 15.

The release of convicts received widespread criticism and questions were raised over Gujarat government’s decision for allowing their release under its remission policy.

In the review petition, Bilkis Bano challenged the Supreme Court’s May decision allowing the Gujarat government to use the 1992 Remission Rules to release the 11 convicts.

Last month, a bench comprising Chief Justice D Y Chandrachud and Justice P S Narasimha took note of the submissions of lawyer Shobha Gupta that the victim herself has challenged the grant of remission and release of the convicts, and the matter be listed for hearing.

On August 15, 2022, the Gujarat government freed 11 individuals because of their ‘good behaviour’. The convicts had completed more than 15 years in jail.

The gand rape & murder incident happened during the violence that broke out after the fire of a Sabarmati Express coach on February 27, 2002, which resulted in the deaths of 59 people.