Fresh warrants have been issued by a Delhi court on Friday for the execution of the four convicts in the 2012 Nirbhaya gang rapeand murder case. The convicts are to be executed on February 1, 2020 at 6 am, as reported by PTI.
Key Takeaways:
- President Ram Nath Kovind rejected the mercy petition filed by Mukesh Singh, a convict in the Nirbhaya Case.
- A Delhi High Court issued fresh warrants on Friday for the execution of the four convicts in the 2012 Nirbhaya gang rape and murder case. The convicts are to be executed on February 1, 2020 at 6 am.
- Additional Sessions Judge Satish Kumar Arora expressed his displeasure over the delay. He called these mercy pleas delay tactics.
The President's Rejection Of The Plea
The warrants were issued shortly after the President rejected the mercy plea filed by Mukesh Singh on Friday. Additional Sessions Judge Satish Kumar Arora had ordered the four men lodging in Tihar jail to be hanged on February 1. However, he expressed his displeasure about the delay of the hanging.
The Supreme Court has already rejected the curative petitions of Mukesh and Vinay. This was the last constitutional resort by which they could challenge the death penalty awarded to them. However, Akshay and Pawan still have the option of filing the mercy pleas before the President.
“This case presents a scenario when convicts were given the opportunity to file mercy but only one preferred. There might be delay tactics. For how long will they go on? Had death warrant not been issued, the convicts would not have been issued, the convicts wouldn’t have used their legal measures,” added the judge.
The Reason For The Delay In Death Penalty
According to the Delhi government and prison rules mandate, there should be a 14-day buffer period in the rejection of mercy plea and the date of execution. The convicts earlier were to be hanged on January 22, as per The Times Of India.
Mukesh, (32), Vinay Sharma (26), Akshay Kumar Singh (31) and Pawan Gupta (25) are to be hanged. Judge Arora had issued death warrants against them on January 7. Moreover, the jail authorities had made preparations and staged mock hanging sessions with sandbags and ropes.
The Supreme Court has already rejected the curative petitions of Mukesh and Vinay. This was the last constitutional resort by which they could challenge the death penalty awarded to them. However, Akshay and Pawan still have the option of filing the mercy pleas before the President.
The Tihar Jail authorities required issuance of new warrants against the four convicts after Public Prosecutor Irfan Ahmed told the court that President Ram Nath Kovind had rejected Mukesh’s mercy.
On Friday, after the President rejected Mukesh’s mercy plea, the home ministry sent it to the Delhi government for informing the prison authorities.
“The Ministry has reiterated the recommendation of the Lieutenant of Governor of Delhi for its rejection”, said an MHA official said on Friday morning.
Read Also: In 94% Rape Cases Offenders Are Known To The Survivors: NCRB Data
Nirbhaya's Parents Hope For Justice
On Friday, Nirbhaya’smother too showed displeasure over the delay in hanging. She appealed to Prime Minister Narendra Modi with folded hands, asking the convicts to be hanged on January 22. She broke down in an interview and blamed the political parties for using Nirbhaya’s death for their own vested interest.
A Delhi High Court issued fresh warrants on Friday for the execution of the four convicts in the 2012 Nirbhaya gang rape and murder case. The convicts are to be executed on February 1, 2020 at 6 am.
“It's a very good thing. Our hopes have gone up after the disheartening news that the execution might be delayed. We are happy that the chances of them getting hanged have increased. We are sure that as soon as they file mercy pleas they will be rejected,” Nirbhayas’s father had said earlier.
Read Also: Nirbhaya Case: Mercy Plea Rejected By President Ram Nath Kovind
Image Credits: STP
Gaurika Taneja is an intern with SheThePeople.TV
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