"Hearing someone being hanged on Feb 1 is top priority": CJI on Nirbhaya convicts

Days after Ministry of Home Affairs moved Supreme Court seeking modification of guidelines for death-row convicts, asking top court to make guidelines more “victim-centric”, a death-row convict in 2012 Nirbhaya gangrape case moved Supreme Court challenging rejection of his mercy petition by President.

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Mukesh’s plea before Supreme Court comes in after President rejected his mercy petition, in effect paving way for hanging on February 1. His plea also asks for a stay on death warrant issued against him and or three convicts in case.

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'Hearing m is top priority'

Advocate AP Singh, lawyer for Mukesh today mentioned petition before Chief Justice of India S.A. Bobde asking for it to be heard on an urgent basis as early as possible. CJI Bobde told Singh “if someone is going to be hanged on February 1, hearing m is top priority”.

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CJI n told Counsel to approach Registrar for an early date which top court will n take into consideration.

multiple petitions being filed by convicts in Nirbhaya case in various courts across country have been criticised by several persons within legal fraternity referring to m as “delaying tactics” and “manipulation of system”. Supreme Court dismissing petition challenging Presidential order on mercy plea, might be final nail in coffin for convicts who are scheduled to face gallows in less than a week.

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