Supreme Court judge Justice K.M. Joseph said that it was “more than obvious” that the men released early from life imprisonment for gangraping Bilkis Bano and murdering her family during the 2002 Gujarat riots were raising a maze of procedural objections in successive court hearings to avoid his Bench.
Justice Joseph noted that time was running out for him, with his retirement now just days away.
“I think it should be more than clear to you what is happening… So, the problem for me is I am retiring on June 16, but my last working day is May 19 [last working day before court closes for summer vacation till July 2]… It is obvious they do not want us to hear the matter. It is more than obvious,” Justice Joseph, accompanied on the Bench by Justice B.V. Nagarathna, addressed advocate Shobha Gupta, Ms. Bano’s counsel.
