The Supreme Court (SC,) on the 18th of December, started the review of the petition filed by Akshay Kumar Singh, one of the four convicted in the 2012 Nirbhaya gang rape and murder case.
Constituted by S.A. Bobde, the Chief Justice of India (CJI,) a bench of judges reviewed the petition. Akshay Kumar Singh filed a petition against the capital punishment given to the four men who raped Nirbhaya on the 16th of December, 2012.
A.P. Singh, Akshay’s lawyer, on behalf of Akshay, filed a petition when the Delhi High Court decided to give death sentence to the convicted. According to Akshay Kumar Singh, the decision of the Delhi High Court and the Central Government was taken due to the pressure of the citizens and the media after the encounter of the four accused in the Disha rape and murder case.
According to sources, out of the 4 convicted in the Nirbhaya case, Akshay was the last one who was allowed to file a review petition as the other 3 already submitted their review petitions, which were rejected. The petition of Akshay was filed at a time when sources reported preparations for the execution of the four accused were going on at Tihar Jail, Delhi.
Previously, CJI S.A. Bobde was reviewing the case. However, he recused himself saying his nephew had once appeared on behalf of the victim.
Now, a bench of SC judges comprising Justice R. Banumathi, Justice Ashok Bhushan and Justice A.S. Bopanna is reviewing the matter.
The hearing about the convict’s review petition began at 10:30 A.M., and the verdict is expected to be announced at 1:00 P.M.
Stay tuned for further updates.
