Seven years after the gruesome Nirbhaya gang rape and murder, Delhi Court had issued death warrants for the four convicts. They were scheduled to be hanged on January 22, 2020. But it looks like Nirbhaya’s battle for justice is not going to end any time soon. The Delhi government has now informed the High Court that the execution cannot take place as scheduled because of the pending mercy petition filed by one of the convicts, Mukesh Singh.
You’re probably wondering how that even makes sense, right?
Here’s How A Mercy Plea Works!
After the Supreme Court refused to stay Mukesh Singh’s scheduled execution, he had filed the mercy plea before President Ram Nath Kovind on Tuesday. The Delhi government told the High Court that they cannot go ahead with the planned execution because the mercy petition of one of the convicts is still pending.
The council representative of the state government, Rahul Mehra, said that the mercy petition filed by Mukesh was with the home department of the Delhi government, which is then forwarded to the Lieutenant Governor’s office. After that, the file is sent to the Union Home Ministry, who then will forward it to the President.
The current status: The home department has already recommended the rejection of Mukesh’s plea and forwarded it to the LG’s office.
Are The Mercy Pleas Being Filed In A Pattern?
The Supreme Court rejected curative petitions by Vinay Sharma and Mukesh on Tuesday, and if curative petitions are rejected, they have an option of seeking mercy from the President. Even after a mercy plea is rejected, a death row convict is given a 14-day notice before execution.
As per reports, Rahul Mehra said that the convicts followed a pattern to file the mercy pleas separately. He said that it was a strategy to ‘frustrate the process of law’. Seems like the accused are just buying themselves time and taking advantage of a loophole in the legal system.
Well, the law IS complicated, but our question is: Why are we giving them an option to strategize and exploit the system?
India Reacts To Delay In Execution
India witnessed a number of protests and candle marches after the horrific 2012 gang rape and murder case of Nirbhaya. The entire country was waiting for January 22 and now that there’s been yet another delay in the verdict, citizens took to Twitter to express their anger.
Nirbhaya’s mom reacts to the plea
Asha Devi, the mother of the 23-year-old paramedic student, who was raped and brutally assaulted on the fateful night of December 16, 2012, is confident that the execution will take place as scheduled. We applaud your optimism and strength, Asha Devi. Our hearts go out to you. Now, all we can do is hope that justice finally prevails.
Featured Image: Twitter
Start your 2020 right with our cool new planners and statement-making sweatshirts that are fun, fab and 100% you! Psst… there’s an additional 20% off too, so head to POPxo.com/shop and take it up a POP!