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.
Ok shoot them immediately then… #NirbhayaCase pic.twitter.com/ZIDV3dkKic
— Joel Jadhav (@joelforyou) January 15, 2020
WTF#NirbhayaCase 's convicts won't be hanged on Jan 22..it got postponed again😡
— (`◕‿◕´) 🅢🅗🅡🅤🅣🅘 (`◕‿◕´) (@proud_2beIndian) January 15, 2020
How long it takes to serve justice to Nirbhaya's family?😡
Such a shocking news. Day by day, why such Delay! It's already too late and now for what you're waiting! #NirbhayaCase pic.twitter.com/WWVfgxoIpJ
— Ankit Sharma🇮🇳 (@ankit2489786) January 15, 2020
Delayed justice is doing no good but victimising Nirbhaya's mother as well..Something not tolerable ..instant justice is the need of the hour..😠 #NirbhayaCase
— Raghav Punj (@PunjRaghav) January 15, 2020
Mazak bana k rakha hai kya ?? Until when you people will be playing with emotions of family ?? It already took more than 7 years to make decisions and still wait is on.. I am worried that they might be freed for few Votes 🤬🤬🤬#NirbhayaCase https://t.co/XF5BfMAqCr
— Sumit Kumar🎭 (@MeSumitKumarr) January 15, 2020
That’s why Hyderabad police shot all rapist #NirbhayaCase pic.twitter.com/3ubYAs5FmE
— BONG (@updatedBong) January 15, 2020
Nirbhaya’s mom reacts to the plea
#NirbhayaCase | "Either the lawyers of the convicts are trying to delay execution or our system is blind and is supporting the criminals…": Asha Devi, Nirbhaya's mother. (ANI) pic.twitter.com/q3h4u7lrJ2
— DailyaddaaNews (@Dailyaddaa) January 15, 2020
Do you even realize the kind of message you are sending out to the society? Can't you see how many girls in our country are raped and murdered? By delaying justice you are only proving that you sympathize with predators and support them #NirbhayaCase
— Ifla (@Iflabazinga) January 15, 2020
#NirbhayaCase Shame on Indian Judicial System. India is no more Mother India. India itself has become a criminal who keeps hiding criminal activities. Hey Judicial System, if you can't punish those monsters then let's public to punish them brutally.
— Pritish Singh (@singhpritish8) January 15, 2020
Rip law & justice delivery system.This proves how the justice delivery system is pro criminals and against the victims.There's should be a huge reason behind the delay else the matter wouldn't have been stretched far so long. Hope Delhi elections is not 1 of them#NirbhayaCase
— Baburao Apte (@Baburao124421) January 15, 2020
Please Transfer them to Hyderabad. @hydcitypolice Will take good care of them. #Nirbhaya #NirbhayaCase #ShameOnKejriwal
— Mayurh Porwal (@mayurporwal) January 15, 2020
idk the procedure of law but what the hell is wrong with the law of India ? why is it taking so long to hang a criminal? For law every criminal is human but what about the victim and its family ? why do they suffer ? why don't they get the justice ? sad! #NirbhayaCase https://t.co/IMYljq8F3p
— Divya kataria (@Divyakataria4) January 15, 2020
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
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