38.6c New Delhi, India, Saturday, October 04, 2025
Top Stories Supreme Court
Political NEWS Legislative Corner Celebstreet International Videos
Subscribe Contact Us
close
Executive

MHA asks SC to set a 7-day limit for death row convicts to file mercy plea before President

By LawStreet News Network      23 January, 2020 08:01 PM      0 Comments
MHA asks SC to set a 7-day limit for death row convicts to file mercy plea before President

Excessive delay in execution of the convicts in the Nirbhaya gang rape and murder case, the Ministry of Home Affairs has asked the Supreme Court to set a seven-day deadline for death row convicts to file mercy petitions besides introducing a time limit for filing of review and curative petitions in such cases.

The case brought huge unrest in the country with serious questions about the safety of women being raised. A 23-year-old Delhi Paramedical student Nirbhaya was brutally beaten and gang raped after which an iron rod was inserted inside her body merely because she went on a late-night movie show with her male friend and then decided to board a private bus and reach her home safely. She died of internal wounds after being thrown out of the bus. 

The convicts were sentenced to death in September 2013. This was upheld by the High Court in March 2014 and by the Supreme Court in May 2017. On January 7, 2020, a Patiala House court issued a death warrant for the execution of the four convicts on January 22, 2020. Later, Mukesh one of the convicts moved an application to postpone the date, arguing that death warrants were not executable in light of him filing a mercy petition with the President. A Delhi court has now fixed February 1 as the fresh date for the execution.

The MHA has asked SC to modify its 2014 ruling where the Court commuted the death sentences of 15 convicts in the Shatrughan Chauhan & Anrs. v. Union of India case. The Supreme Court had in judgement provided that supervening circumstances could be grounds for commuting a death sentence into a life sentence by declaring that Right to life and liberty (Article 21) was of supreme importance in deciding the constitutionality of the governors or presidents power to grant pardon.

Author: Nandini Gandhi



Share this article:

User Avatar
About:


Leave a feedback about this
TRENDING NEWS


TOP STORIES

kerala-hc-directs-comprehensive-snakebite-prevention-guidelines-for-schools
Trending Judiciary
Kerala HC Directs Comprehensive Snakebite Prevention Guidelines For Schools [Read Order]

Kerala High Court directs comprehensive snakebite prevention and management guidelines for schools, ensuring safety, awareness, and emergency response.

30 September, 2025 08:46 PM
sc-orders-two-judicial-officers-to-go-for-seven-days-training-for-flawed-bail-order
Trending Judiciary
SC orders two judicial officers to go for seven days training for flawed bail order [Read Judgment]

Supreme Court quashes flawed bail order, directs two Delhi judges to undergo 7-day special training on judicial conduct and bail rulings.

30 September, 2025 09:58 PM
sc-seeks-reply-from-iit-delhi-kharagpur-on-plea-to-transfer-student-due-to-mental-health-condition
Trending Judiciary
SC seeks reply from IIT Delhi, Kharagpur on plea to transfer student due to mental health condition [Read Order]

SC seeks reply from IIT Delhi & Kharagpur on plea for transfer of B Arch student citing mental health needs, AIIMS proximity & Article 21 rights.

30 September, 2025 11:22 PM
preserve-body-of-top-maoist-commander-killed-in-police-encounter-sc-to-chhattisgarh-govt
Trending Judiciary
Preserve body of top Maoist commander killed in police encounter, SC to Chhattisgarh govt [Read Order]

SC directs Chhattisgarh govt to preserve body of top Maoist commander Katha Ramchandra Reddy, killed in encounter, till HC hears fake encounter plea.

30 September, 2025 11:47 PM

ADVERTISEMENT


Join Group

Signup for Our Newsletter

Get Exclusive access to members only content by email