The Supreme Court (SC,) on the 18th of December, rejected the plea filed by Akshay Kumar Singh, one of the convicts in the 2012 Nirbhaya rape and murder case.
A.P. Singh, Akshay Kumar Singh’s lawyer, filed a petition on his behalf, questioning the death row against the four convicts.
After S.A. Bobde, the Chief Justice of India (CJI,) recused himself from the case citing personal reasons, a new bench of three SC judges reviewed the petition and rejected it.
The bench, led by Justice R. Banumathi, said, “Review petition is not re hearing of appeal over and over again. We find no grounds for review of 2017 verdict upholding the death penalty of the convict.”
During the hearing, A.P. Singh said the death penalty given to the convicts is because they hail from a poor background and the media’s pressure.
However, General Solicitor Tushar Mehta denied the argument of Mr. Singh and said there are certain crimes where “humanity cries” and the crime by these 4 convicts is one such crime.
He said, “There are certain crimes where God would feel ashamed in not saving the child (victim) and in creating such a monster. The death penalty does not deserve to be set aside for such crimes.”
Meanwhile, sources reported preparations for the execution of the four accused were going on at Tihar Jail, Delhi. However, an official announcement about the execution of the four convicts is yet to be made.
Stay tuned for further updates.
