The Supreme Court on February 11, 2020 issued notices to the four death row convicts in the Nirbhaya gang-rape and murder case on the Centre’s appeal challenging the Delhi HC verdict. 

The Delhi HC had dismissed Centre’s plea against stay on the execution of the four convicts. It also granted liberty to the centre to approach the trial court for issuance of fresh date for the execution of these convicts. 

A 3-judge bench, headed by Justice R Banumathi and also comprising Justices Ashok Bhushan and A S Bopanna, said the pendency of the appeal filed by the Centre and the Delhi government before it would not be an impediment for the trial court in issuing fresh date for execution of the convicts.

Solicitor General Tuhar Mehta, appearing for the Centre and the Delhi government, said the execution of the convicts is not for "enjoyment " and the authorities are only executing the mandate of the law.
 

Mehta said that three of them have exhausted their remedies but one of them, Pawan Gupta, has not yet filed either curative plea in the apex court or mercy petition before the President.

Referring to the alleged encounter killing of four accused in the gang rape and murder case of a woman veterinarian in Hyderabad, Mehta said, “people had celebrated after this and this was because people have started losing faith in the system. This reflects poorly on our system".

The court had initially said that issuing notice to the convicts would further delay the matter but did it later on the appeal filed by the Centre and Delhi government.

The matter has been adjourned for February 13, 2020. 

Author: Shubham Jindal