The desperation with which the state moved to stall Saibaba’s release was unprecedented. Equally unprecedented was the alacrity with which the Chief Justice ordered the matter to be listed. In the past, the Supreme Court has held special sittings, even at midnight, but these were cases where the accused were on death row. In contrast to Saibaba’s case, we have before us the case of Bilkis Bano who was gang-raped during the communal violence that followed the Godhra train burning. One only hopes that Saibaba’s case does not go the same way.

Source: Indian Express October 20, 2022 21:14 UTC