Nirbhaya Case:Convicts hanging postponed

Delhi court has once again postponed a crucial hearing to determine when the four convicts in the Nirbhaya gang rape and murder case will be hanged. The Patiala House court in Delhi adjourned until Monday a plea filed by Nirbhaya’s parents seeking fresh death warrants for the four convicts.

Two previous death warrants issued by the court were earlier junked because petitions filed by some of the convicts were pending before courts or the President of India. On Thursday, Delhi’s Patiala House court resumed hearing a petition filed by Nirbhaya’s parents seeking fresh death warrants for the fourth convict.

Observing that Pawan Gupta, one of the four convicts, just had his lawyer replaced, the court adjourned the matter until Monday. On Wednesday convict Pawan told the court that he had removed his lawyer and so, would need a little time before he could appropriately represent in hearings on the petition filed by Nirbhaya’s parents.

On Thursday, the Patiala House court-appointed Advocate Ravi Qazi to represent the Pawan Gupta and adjourned the matter until Monday.

Meanwhile, earlier in the day the Supreme Court reserved its order on a plea filed by another convict challenging the rejection of his mercy petition filed before President Ram Nath Kovind. The Supreme court said it will pronounce its verdict on the plea, filed by Vinay Sharma on Friday.