Bilkis Bano case: SC orders Gujarat govt to pay compensation with two weeks

The Supreme Court yesterday directed the Gujarat government to give 50 lakh rupees compensation, a job and accommodation of choice to rape victim Bilquis Bano, within two weeks. She was gang-raped during the 2002 riots in the state, when she was five months pregnant.

Her advocate Shobha Gupta told the apex court bench that despite its order, the Gujarat government has not provided anything to the victim.

On the other hand, Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, appearing for the state, submitted that 50 lakh rupees were not provided in the victim



compensation scheme of Gujarat. He said the state would also like to file a plea seeking a review of the top court's order in April.

The top court clarified that its April order to pay the compensation to Bilquis within two weeks was passed keeping in view the peculiar facts of the case.

The bench headed by Chief Justice of India Ranjan Gogoi, disposed of the contempt plea of Bilquis Bano, alleging non-compliance of its order by the state and gave liberty to her to approach it in case of any difficulty.