Execution of Nirbhaya's rapists stayed till further orders; no hanging at 6 am on Feb 1

Additional Sessions Judge Dharmender Rana of the Patiala House Court on Friday deferred the execution of all the 4 convicts in the Nirbhaya rape and murder case until further orders. Earlier, they were scheduled to be hanged on February 1 at 6 am. This development comes a few hours after the Supreme Court dismissed the review plea of Pawan Kumar Gupta, a convict in the Nirbhaya case against the apex court's verdict on whether he was a juvenile at the time of committing the crime. 

On Thursday, the curative plea of another Nirbhaya convict Akshay was dismissed by the apex court. Meanwhile, another rapist Vinay’s mercy plea is pending before President Kovind. Pawan, the fourth convict in the Nirbhaya case is yet to file a curative petition.

Read the reason for staying the execution of the convicts here:

Read: Nirbhaya Rapists' Jail Diary Reeks Of Depravity; Filled With Horrific Sketches, Lewd Poems

Key arguments in the court

Earlier in the day, the public prosecutor stated that the mercy petition of Vinay Sharma, on of the convicts was pending. He added that the other rapists could be executed as they had no pending plea in any forum. On the other hand, AP Singh- the counsel for the convicts sought sine dine adjournment in the execution proceedings as some legal remedies were still pending in the courts as per his contention. Meanwhile, Amicus Curiae Vrinda Grover stated that hanging the convicts separately would be a "travesty of justice". She highlighted the fact that death penalty is an irreversible process.

Read: Nirbhaya Case: Centre Slams 'exploitation Of Judicial Process' As Court Stays Execution

The Nirbhaya case

A 23-year-old paramedic student Nirbhaya was gang-raped inside a running bus by six persons on December 16, 2012, in Delhi. The victim was severely assaulted and thrown out on the road along with her male friend and succumbed to injuries a few days later. Out of the six convicts, one reportedly committed suicide in prison, while another, a juvenile, served maximum punishment of three years in a reform home and was set free in 2015. The remaining four rapists were convicted and handed the death penalty by a trial court in 2013, confirmed by the Delhi High Court in March 2014. The Supreme Court upheld the Delhi High Court's verdict in 2017. 

Read: 'Hang Them Or Burn Constitution': Nirbhaya's Mother Distraught As Court Stays Execution

Read: Nirbhaya Case: 'Four Convicts Can Be Hanged Separately,' Tihar Jail Tells Delhi Court