Nirbhaya's Mother Breaks Down In Court As Convict Demands New Lawyer

The mother of 2012 Delhi gang-rape victim Nirbhaya once again broke down in a Delhi court on Wednesday during the hearing of convict Pawan Gupta's new death warrant. With tears rolling down her face,  Asha Devi pleaded before the judges that she has been waiting for more than seven years to get her daughter justice. The Nirbhaya's mother broke down after the convict's lawyer in the court said that he will no longer represent him and the court adjourned the hearing for Thursday.

The convict's father had asked the court to grant his son more time to arrange for legal aid. On this, the court said that everyone have the right to have legal aid till his last breath and adjurned the matter for February 13. On this, Asha Devi could not hold her tears and asked the judges about her rights.

"I have been asking the court for one-and-a-half years to get their legal remedies cleared. You didn't issue death warrant date last time because there was one week's time given by HC. Now they are here without a lawyer. I am the mother of the victim. I'm here with folded hands asking for justice. What about my rights," asked Asha Devi.

Also Read | 'Tareek Pe Tareek, Tareek Pe Tareek': Nirbhaya’s Mother On New Death Warrants For Convicts

To this, the court said that he was aware of her rights and that is why the court proceedings were being held. "Everyone is conscious of your rights. That is why these proceedings are happening," the court said, while the lawyer of Nirbhaya's mother argued that this was the a deliberate move to delay the hanging.

The judge, however, said that not giving him legal aid would be injustice. "Let Justice be done even tough heaven falls. THis court is of the opinion that any condemned convict is entitled to legal aid till his last breath," Justice Dharmendra Rana said.

The date of execution, first fixed for January 22 in Tihar jail, was later postponed for 6 am on February 1. However, the trial court stayed the execution "till further orders" on January 31 as the convicts were yet to exhaust their legal recourses.