A single judge bench of the Gujarat HC on Tuesday recused itself from hearing a plea by former Gujarat Minister Maya Kodnani, convicted in the 2002 Naroda Patia riot case, seeking regular bail on the ground of her ill-health. Justice Anant Dave recused himself from hearing the plea of the former Minister of State for Women & Child Development in Modi Government in the State.
As the case came up for hearing, the judge said, “not before me”. Justice Dave, however, did not give any reason for recusing the bail application of Kodnani. Her bail plea may be heard on Wednesday before another judge in Gujarat High Court. Earlier this year in February, the Supreme Court had refused to extend her interim bail and asked her to seek a regular bail from the High Court.
Convicted in the 2002 Naroda Patia case, the jailed former Minister sought for regular bail on the ground of her ill-health. She has submitted in the bail plea that her appeal challenging the judgement of special court is pending before the Gujarat High Court since December 2012 and it is not likely to be heard in near future, hence considering this fact she should be given regular bail.
Apart from health ground, the three-time legislator and first woman to be convicted in a post-Godhra riot case also contented that the Naroda Patia special trial court had relied upon the testimonies of many of the witnesses, which is not considerable as per the provisions of the law.