The Congress condemned the Gujarat BJP government after the Supreme Court overturned the remission granted to 11 prisoners in the Bilkis Bano case, claiming that the government emphasised protecting criminals over achieving justice for the victim.

According to human rights lawyer Anand Yagnik, the Gujarat government's decision to give remission appeared to be motivated by social, religious, and political elements rather than legal considerations. He described the Supreme Court judgement as a victory for the rule of law, a report in the PTI stated.