President Ram Nath Kovind rejected the mercy petition of the second 2012 Nirbhaya gang rape convict Vinay Kumar Sharma on Saturday.
Hours later, the Centre moved the Delhi High Court arguing that the four death row convicts were taking the judicial process for a “joy ride” and were acting in tandem to delay their execution.
Hours after Sharma’s clemency plea was dismissed by the President, Akshay Thakur, 31, a third convict, filed his mercy petition. Earlier, another convict Mukesh Singh had filed a mercy petition that was swiftly rejected by the President.
A trial court on Friday postponed the execution of the four men scheduled for 6 a.m. on February 1 in Tihar jail. The original date of hanging was January 22. In the order, the judge noted that if an appeal or an application is made by even one convict, the execution of the death warrant shall be postponed in the case of co-convicts also.
Following Centre’s plea, the High Court sought the response of the four convicts, DG (Prisons) and Tihar Jail authorities. It will hear the matter again on Sunday.
Solicitor General Tushar Mehta argued that the convicts were testing everyone’s patience. “This was one of the cases which shook the conscience of the nation and the society is waiting for justice,” he said.
The Centre contended that the trial court judge had acted beyond its jurisdiction in postponing the death warrants.
