Nirbhaya Case: 3-judge SC bench dismisses Pawan Gupta's plea against hanging

Supreme Court in its urgent hearing on Friday, March 20, dismissed  last-minute petition of Nirbhaya case death row convict Pawan Gupta against rejection of his mercy plea by President. early morning hearing was held by a bench comprising of Justices Bhanumathi, Ashok Bhushan and AS Bopanna.

Pawan Gupta's lawyer, AP Singh, had moved to apex court after Delhi High Court refused to stay death penalty of all four convicts that is scheduled for 5.30 AM on Friday.

Convicts to be hanged

“We don't find any grounds for entertaining this petition for challenging executive order by which mercy petition was rejected by President. We reby dismiss same”, Justice Bhanumathi observed while reading out order. " court observed that scope of judicial review of mercy petitions is limited," order furr said.

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AP Singh cites Pawan Gupta's juvenile status at time of crime

In his opening arguments, advocate AP Singh submitted documents claiming juvenility of Pawan Gupta at time of crime. Justice Ashok Bhushan had said that juvenile issues have been argued by AP Singh at every st of trail and Solicitor General stated that argument was rejected by courts throughout trail.

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Delhi HC dismisses plea

Upholding Patiala House Court's order refusing to stay execution of four convicts, Delhi High Court on Thursday, March 19, dismissed convicts' plea challenging ir scheduled execution. Justice Manmohan told convicts' lawyer to understand his case was closing and that his clients will soon meet God.

four Nirbhaya rapists had sought a stay in execution, but Patiala House Court had rejected it after which y moved  higher courts.

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While arguing case for convicts, ir lawyer AP Singh claimed that several petitions were pending before various government bodies — one petition is pending before NHRC, one mercy petition is pending with President, one divorce petition pending in a Bihar court, one petition pending before HC, one petition against CEC also pending before HC — but that didn't deter court from dismissing convicts' plea. 

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