The Tihar Jail in Delhi, on the 18th of December, issued a notice to the four men convicted in the 2012 Nirbhaya rape and murder case.
According to the notice, the four convicts, who were given death penalty, could file a mercy petition within 7 days.
Sandeep Goel, the Director General (Prison,) said, “Tihar jail administration has issued a notice to Nirbhaya gang rape case convicts saying they have seven days to file mercy petition.”
If the convicts fail to file a mercy petition within 7 days, then the Tihar Jail administration would approach the Patiala Court in Delhi to go ahead with the proceedings of the death penalty execution.
The Patiala Court, on the 18th of December, adjourned the case and gave a week’s time to Akshay Kumar Singh, one of the convicts, for filing a mercy petition before Ram Nath Kovind, the President of India.
Though Akshay Singh’s lawyers sought 3 weeks, the Court rejected it and said the convicts would get the prescribed time under the law, which is one week.
Meanwhile, Nirbhaya’s parents, who were witnessing the Court proceedings, were upset and said, “The convicts have been given one more chance. Why are their rights being considered? What about our rights?”
The four convicts were given a sentence to death punishment in 2017. All the three convicts filed their petitions in 2017, except Akshay Kumar Singh.
The Patiala Court adjourned the case to the 7th of January 2020.
Stay tuned for further updates.
