Gujarat HC Asks '2008 Ahmedabad Serial Blasts Case' Convict To Engage A Lawyer For Death Sentence Confirmation Hearing

The Court added that if the convict isn't able to engage a lawyer, an order may be passed engaging a lawyer on his behalf through Legal Services Authority

A bench of Justice AY Kogje and Justice Samir J. Dave passed this order after it was apprised that out of the 38 convicts sentenced to death, only one had not yet secured legal representation for the death sentence hearing proceedings.

It may be noted that in March 2022, the High Court issued notice to the 38 convicts who were sentenced to death by a special court in February 2022 in connection with the 2008 Ahmedabad serial blast case.

The notices were issued on a plea moved by the State Government to confirm their death sentence following Section 366 of CrPC, which says that when the Court of Session passes a sentence of death, the proceedings shall be submitted to the High Court and it can't be executed unless confirmed by the HC.

It may be noted that in total 38 accused were awarded the death sentence by Special Designated Judge on February 18 in connection with the 2008 Ahmedabad Serial Blasts case wherein as many as 56 people were killed.

The Special Designated Judge, had awarded them death sentence after convicting them under Sections 302 read with Section 34 and 109 of the Indian Penal Code and Sections 10, 16(1)(A)(B) of the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, 1967.

Bombs went off in Ahmedabad on July 26, 2008, at various spots including the state government-run civil hospital, Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation-run LG Hospital, on buses, parked bicycles, in cars, and other places, killing 56 persons.