SC to Hear Centre’s Plea Challenging DHC Verdict on Nirbhaya Convicts

The Supreme Court on Thursday agreed to urgently hearCentre's plea on separate hangings of the four Nirbhaya convicts on Friday.

The Ministry of Home Affairs had moved the top courtafter the Delhi High Court on Wednesday held that the four convicts have to behanged together and not separately.

It has been contended by the government that theconvicts are not to be hanged separately only till the stage of their SpecialLeave Petition (SLP) before the Supreme Court and thereafter, separate hangingcan be done.

However, the judge said that since up to the SupremeCourt, their fate has been decided by a common order saying that he is of the consideredopinion that death warrants of all the convicts be executed together and notseparately.

The Centre moved the Supreme Court hours after the high court order was pronounced challenging the rejection of the pleas filed by the convicts of the 2012 gang rape and murder case.

The Delhi High Court also set a seven-day deadline forthe convicts to avail any remaining remedies but refused to stay a trial courtorder indefinitely postponing their execution.

The High Court had said if the four chose not to makeany type of petition in seven days from now, the institutions/authoritiesconcerned will deal with the matter, as per the law, without further delay.