Thread by @barandbench

[Bilkis Bano case]

Supreme Court to shortly hear petition filed by Bilkis Bano challenging Gujarat govt decision to grant remission to 11 convicts who had gangraped her and murdered her family members during the 2002 Godhra riots.

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Hearing begins.

Sr Adv Sidharth Luthra: If we are proceeding than only the main matter stands. Justice Rastogi has already decided on ...

Another counsel says writs I'm case not maintainable as per precedent

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SC: We will hear you. Let her make her case first.

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SG: Matter concerns 11 remissions. If Petitions by X,Y and Z are allowed then it will lay down a bad position of law. Not only in this case, it should not become a precedent.

SC: We are saying let us take her case.

SG: Kindly hear them first on locus.

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Another counsel alleges Petitioner has played a fraud on court and lied.

SC: How long will you keep going on like this? We said we will hear after considering plea of victim.

Adv: She has played Fraud on Affidavit.

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Adv Shobha Gupta for Bano: Service is deemed complete if mailed. I have sent every AoR.

Adv: Envelope does not say he (client Bipin) refused.

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Adv alleging that Gupta did not complete service on his client and lied about the same on affidavit.

Justice Nagarathna: You are present in court today? Do you want to accept service of notice or not?

Adv: I will but let me file counter on the fraud played.

Luthra: Short issue is there is discordance between post office report and service records.

Adv Gupta maintains service was completed.

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SG Tushar Mehta reads and translates some of the documents in Gujarati for the Court.

Gupta: Fact remains that when i sent a mail they did not ...

SC: You emailed everyone?

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SC: We will begin hearing case today. You file your counter, we will record your contentions and service.

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SC: We will hear you and give you two weeks time for counter. But we will begin hearing the case. Did you file vakalat?

Adv: Not in main matter.

SC: Then how did you know of listing?

Adv: Because of connected matter.

Bench notes so in order with respect to that particular respondent.

Adv Vrinda Grover: Let them not at all the hearing.

Shobha Gupta: I am ready to argue and finish ASAP. Please let me. 1 hour only.

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SC: We issued notice after the matter came to our bench. We are prepared to sit during the vacation also. My sister has to go to Singapore later this month.

Grover: Short law point not a criminal appeal.

SG: Please do not keep it in the vacation.

Gupta: I can finish in an hour. Or lordships may keep it for one whole day, may be tomorrow.

Justice Joseph reiterates to counsel for convicts that they will begin hearing as case was scheduled today.

SC: I am silent but do not make me say anything. We are giving you the… twitter.com/i/web/status/1…

Gupta begins.

SG clarifies he is appearing for both State of Gujarat and Centre, says there is no conflict.

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Bench going through list of respondents counsel present in court and status of service (of notice).