Judge Salvi's transfer deferred to complete Bilkis Bano case

Mumbai, Oct 4 (UNI) The Bombay High Court has deferred by two months the transfer of special judge U D Salvi who is presiding over Gujarat's Bilkis Bano-gangrape and massacre case.

Judge Salvi and three other judges -- S P Davare, A R Joshi and R B Mallik, were to be transferred to Solapur, Aurangabad, Ratnagiri and Kolhapur respectively.

The High Court, however, has now granted two months extension to judge Salvi to enable him to complete the Bilkis Bano case, which was nearing completion, and some fake stamp paper cases involving Abdul Karim Telgi, which were also in the final stages.

The Bilkis Bano case had been transferred to Mumbai from Gujarat on the directives of the Supreme Court following an application filed by Bano.

The Bombay High Court had appointed judge Salvi to conduct the trials. The court has examined witnesses in the case and the argument on evidence recorded was likely to commence from October 8.

Bilkis Bano was allegedly raped by rioteers in the aftermath of the Godhra carnage and fourteen members of her family had been massacred.

UNI