Supreme Court Issues Notice on Convicts’ Appeal Against Life Sentence in Bilkis Bano Case

The Supreme Court issued notice today on a plea filed by two convicts, Bipinchand Kanaiyalal Joshi and Pradip Ramanlal Modhiya, challenging their conviction and life sentence in the Bilkis Bano gang-rape and murder case.

The Bench sought responses from the States of Gujarat and Maharashtra regarding the 2017 Bombay High Court judgment that upheld their sentences.

The petitioners were among the eleven convicts whose 2022 remission by the Government of Gujarat was recently quashed by the Supreme Court for lack of jurisdiction, resulting in their return to custody.

The Court has scheduled the matter for further hearing on May 5, 2026.

[Bipinchand Kanaiyalal Joshi @ Lala Doctor v. State of Gujarat]