Supreme Court To Hear Godhra Train Carnage Case Appeals In March 2024

The Supreme Court on Wednesday (October 11) posted a batch of appeals relating to the 2002 Godhra train carnage case for hearing in the second week of March 2024. The case includes the appeals filed by convicts and also the appeals filed by the State against certain acquittals. The State has also filed appeals challenging the High Court commuting the death penalty of eleven persons to life sentence.

A bench comprising Justices JK Maheshwari and KV Viswanathan asked the State of Gujarat to file a convenience compilation on or before February 15 and furthermore, to file brief note of submissions  before first week of March, 2024.

At the outset, the Counsel appearing for the State of Gujarat, apprised the Bench that the records are bulky and that they are preparing evidence chart for all the convicts and are also against acquittals.

The crime which took place on February 27, 2002, resulted in the killing of 58 persons in a fire inside the S-6 coach of Sabarmati express which was carrying kar sevaks (Hindu religious volunteers) from Ayodhya. The Godhra carnage triggered communal riots in Gujarat.

In March 2011, the trial court convicted 31 persons, of whom 11 were sentenced to death and the remaining 20 awarded life in prison. 63 other accused were acquitted. In 2017, the Gujarat High Court commuted the death sentence of 11 to life-term and upheld the life sentence awarded to the other 20.  

On May 13, 2022, the Supreme Court granted one of the convicts, Abdul Raheman Dhantiya, alias, Kankatto or Jamburo, interim bail for six months on the ground that his wife was suffering from terminal cancer and that his daughters were mentally challenged. On November 11, 2022, the Court extended his bail till March 31, 2023. Last year in December, the Supreme Court granted bail to another life convict named Farook considering the fact that he had undergone 17 years sentence and that his role was of stone-pelting at the train.

Later, on April 21, 2023, the Bench comprising Chief Justice of India DY Chandrachud and Justice PS Narasimha in view of the period of imprisonment undergone (17-18 years) and the individual role in the crime, granted bail to the eight applicants.

“Having regard to the specific role, which is attributed to the appellants, we are not inclined to enlarge Appellant Nos 8, 10 and 12 on bail. These observations will not come in the way of the disposal of the appeal on merits.”

Case Title: Abdul Raheman Dhantiya @ Kankatto @ Jamburo v. State of Gujarat | Criminal Appeal Nos. 522-526 of 2018

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