The much-awaited execution day for the Nirbhaya gangrape convicts has been decided by a Delhi Court today. The four convicts – Pawan, Akshay, Vinay and Mukesh will be hanged on January 22, 2020, at 7 o’clock in the morning.
The verdict was made live on video conference to connect the court with the convicts who are lodged in Tihar Jail.
Tihar jail authorities have written to the UP Prisons authorities to seek the service of a hangman, intimating them about the date and time mentioned in the death warrant.
Additional Sessions Judge Satish Kumar Arora of the Patiala House Court had reserved the order earlier in the day on the plea by Nirbhaya’s parents seeking issuance of the death warrants of the four convicts. Before pronouncing the date, the judge spent some time speaking to each of the convicts via video conferencing after asking media persons to step out.
Asha Devi, mother of 2012 Delhi gang-rape victim has said, “My daughter has got justice. Execution of the 4 convicts will empower the women of the country. This decision will strengthen the trust of people in the judicial system.”
She further told the news agencies, “The order (on death warrant) will restore the faith of women in law.”
The court was informed by counsel A.P. Singh, appearing for the convicts that a curative petition was in the process of being filed.
The parents of Nirbhaya had urged the court to expedite the execution proceedings as delay only added to their prolonged agony since the fateful night of December 16, 2012.
On Monday, the court had dismissed an application filed by the father of one of the death-row convicts in the Nirbhaya rape case, who had questioned the credibility of the sole witness by claiming that he was “tutored” and sought the registration of FIR against him.
Out of the six accused in the gangrape and murder charges, the main accused Ram Singh had allegedly committed suicide in Tihar Jail during the pendency of the trial while another accused was a minor at the time of the commission of the crime and was hence sent to a reform facility for juveniles and released after serving three years.
Delhi Commission for Women Chief Swati Maliwal told the news agencies, “I strongly welcome this decision. It is a win for all the ‘Nirbhayas’ living in this country. I salute Nirbhaya’s parents who fought for 7 long years. Why has it taken 7yrs to punish these people? Why can’t this time period be reduced?”
Sushmita Dev, former MP for Congress from Silchar constituency of Assam said, “Nirbhaya has got justice. In an open & shut case like Nirbhaya’s if it can take 7yrs, then, what happens in other cases where evidence is not clear? It calls for introspection for political class&legal community to see where are problems & why should it take so long.”
India Legal had earlier run a story on the challenges the judiciary faces because of which the conviction rates have not been as high as the nation wants them to be.
— India Legal Bureau