Nirbhaya gang-rape: Women activists hail SC 'landmark' decision

The National Commission of Women (NCW) and women activists on Monday welcomed the Supreme Court's "landmark decision" in Nirbhaya gang-rape case and said "justice can be delayed but not denied."

The apex court earlier today dismissed the review petitions filed by three of the four convicts in the gang rape and murder case.

Speaking to ANI, chairman of NCW Rekha Sharma said, "I welcome this decision as it proves justice can be delayed but not denied. It's a landmark decision. This judgement shows that law takes its own course in this country."

Meanwhile, women activist, Brinda Adige said that all the four convicts should be hanged soon.

"This is a welcome order that the Supreme Court rejected the petition by three people but there were four convicts and what we have to understand that why the fourth convict has not made a review petition. These are delaying tactics. The apex court should put it down within this time period; all of those four should be hanged," Adige said.

Echoing similar sentiments, another women activist Abha Singh requested President Ram Nath Kovind to neither delay nor give any mercy to the rapists.

"Now, it is a matter of time that they (convicts) would be hanged but yes they can always go to the President for Presidential pardon under the gruesome case. It merits no pardon. They should be hanged as fast as possible," she said.

"Our request to President of India would be to do not delay and do not give any mercy to these rapists. Because a message has to go to all the rapists of this country that till now no further, the law is above you and it will catch you even if you try to evade the law and with increasing crime against women," she added.

The apex court's judgment came in response to a review petition filed by three death row convicts- Mukesh Singh, Vinay Sharma and Pawan Gupta- against the Supreme Court order of May 2017, which said that Nirbhaya's rapists and killers should be hanged.

The judgment came in response to a review petition filed by three death row convicts- Mukesh Singh, Vinay Sharma and Pawan Gupta- against the apex court order of May 2017, which said that Nirbhaya's rapists and killers should be hanged.

The 23-year-old girl was gang-raped by five men and a juvenile in a moving bus in Delhi in 2012.

The girl succumbed to her injuries 13 days after the incident.