Nirbhaya Convicts' Hanging: Centre Moves Supreme Court Against Delhi HC Verdict

The central government has moved the Supreme Court against the judgement of the Delhi High Court giving seven days to Nirbhaya gangrape convicts to exhaust legal options against their hanging. The high court had also ruled that the convicts can't be hanged separately. Interestingly, the Centre didn't even wait for the copy of the judgment. Along with the Centre, the National Capital Territory of Delhi has filed a Special Leave Petition against the judgment.

Earlier in the day, the Delhi High Court, while pronouncing order on the Centre's plea challenging stay on execution of the four convicts in the Nirbhaya gang-rape and murder case, had said the prison rules do not state that if mercy petition of one convict is pending, the execution of the other convicts can take place.

"Delhi Prison Rules do not say that if mercy petition of one convict is pending, the execution of the other convicts can take place," said Justice Suresh Kait, who was hearing the case.

Also Read | Know Why Nirbhaya Case Convicts Could Not Be Hanged On February 1

"Since upto the Supreme Court, their fate has been decided by a common judgment, I am of the opinion that death warrant of all convicts should be executed together and not separately," the court added.

Justice Suresh Kumar Kait had on February 2 reserved order on the Centre's plea after holding special hearing on Saturday and Sunday. The Centre and the Delhi government has also challenged the trial court's January 31 order staying "till further orders" the execution of all the four convicts in the case -- Mukesh Kumar Singh (32), Pawan Gupta (25), Vinay Kumar Sharma (26) and Akshay Kumar (31), who are lodged in Tihar Jail.