A three judges bench of the Supreme Court of India today (January 29, 2020), headed by Justice R Banumahti has rejected the plea of Nirbhaya rape and murder convict Mukesh against the rejection of his mercy petition by the President, Ram Nath Kovind. The court rejected the plea by saying that all the relevant records were placed before the president before his decision.
While dismissing the plea, the court claimed that “There is no merit in the contention… Alleged sufferings in jail can't be grounds to challenge the rejection of mercy plea by President." The court also rejected the claim of the convict that the president took the decision in a very expeditious manner. The court said that “expeditious disposal of mercy plea doesn't mean non-application of mind by President.”
President Ram Nath Kovind rejected his mercy plea on the 17th of January, 2020 and all the four convicts are scheduled to be hanged on the 1st of February, 2020. All the convicts are trying their best to save themselves as and when possible, Mukesh had filed a plea against the rejection of his mercy plea, other convicts have filed curative petitions in the Supreme Court.
AP singh while appearing for the convicts said that "I have approached the SC registry with curative petitions today. The registry has asked me to file some additional documents along with the petition and I am in the process of completing the formalities."
Author- Aditi Dubey
