Godhra train burning: SC grants bail to 8 convicts, no relief for those on death row

The Supreme Court of India on Friday granted bail to eight individuals convicted in connection with the 2002 Godhra train burning incident. However, no relief was given to the four death row inmates. A bench headed by Chief Justice of DY Chandrachud granted bail to eight convicts who had been sentenced to life imprisonment.

Around 58 people had lost their lives at the end of February 2002 after several coaches of the Sabarmati Express were torched at the Godhra Railway Station in Gujarat. The incident had triggered large-scale riots in the western state. Following the incident a local court had convicted 31 people and acquitted 63 others in 2011.

The Gujarat High Court had later upheld the trial court's decision, but commuted the death sentence of the 11 to life imprisonment. The convicts had then moved the Supreme Court challenging the Gujarat HC order.

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The court asked the advocates on record appearing on behalf of the petitioner and state counsel to sit together and prepare one consolidated chart for the convenience of the bench. The SC was hearing the bail pleas of some convicts in the matter. 

The state government has also filed appeals against the Gujarat High Court order which had previously commuted the sentence of some convicts from the death penalty to life imprisonment.

(With inputs from agencies)