The Patiala House Court of Delhi today (February 17, 2020) has issued fresh death warrants for the Nirbhaya rape and murder case convicts scheduling the hanging for March 3, 2020 at 6 am.
The court was to hear the plea for issuing of new death warrant against the convicts in the Nirbhaya rape and murder case today. The rape took place on 16th December 2012 in a moving bus on the roads of Delhi. The news spread like wildfire leading to chaotic protests nationwide demanding justice for Nirbhaya. It has been 7 long years of wait for justice to be delievered. And still rapes and crimes against women have not decreased in number. Out of the six involved the driver Ram Singh committed suicide in Tihar Jail during the trials. The juvenile was sentenced to maximum 3 years of imprisonment and was released on 20th December 2015. The remaining four were convicted and sentenced to be hanged till death.
In the previous hearing the Tihar Jail Authority said that Pavan(one of the convicts) told them that he did not want any lawyer for himself. The Tihar Jail administration said that now a new death warrant can be issued. This plea was filed by the parents of Nirbhaya on which the court on Tuesday issued a notice to the convicts to answer the court by Wednesday. After the time given by Supreme Court to the convicts to go for lawful options got over. The Supreme Court gave the freedom to the Jail administration to file for a new death warrant in the trial court. The court also issued a notice to the 4 convicts on behalf of the Central Governments petition.
During the hearing Justice Bhushan asked Solicitor General Tushar Mehta that when according to his chart its clear that 3 mercy petitions have been declined and convict Pavan Gupta has not yet filed a mercy petition then why the petition for issuing a new death warrant has been filed. Now the petitions filed by the Central government and Delhi Government for execution of the convicts are due for hearing in Supreme Court.
Author: Aishwarya Bajpai
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